10 Ways to Help Seniors Deal with Isolation and Depression – DailyCaring
Caregivers share their tips on how to help their older adult deal with isolation and depression. According to WHO estimates, depression affects 350 million people of all ages globally.
1. Treat sleeping problems
Many seniors who live alone are prone to sleeping problems, which can exacerbate depression. To avoid serious depressive episodes, ensure that the older adult follows a regular sleep schedule, and keep engaging activities or necessary medication close at hand if the person suffers from sundowning or sleep disorder.
2. Promote a sense of purpose
To keep loneliness and brooding at bay, encourage the senior to take up a hobby like knitting or gardening, or persuade them to try social pastimes like card games or yoga.
3. Encourage social interaction
Allowing your loved one to deal with depression on their own is not a good idea; encourage them to visit friends and family, participate in group outings, and attend community events.
4. Keep them physically active
Walking, stair climbing, and age-appropriate workouts can help a senior stay in good physical, mental, and emotional shape; you can also encourage the depressed person to join a group exercise class like yoga or tai chi, where they might make friends.
5. Make sure they eat healthy
Fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains and lean protein, are essential for seniors. Vegetables should be lightly cooked, and sugar, starch, and unhealthy fats should be avoided.
6. Entrust them with a chore
Caring for a plant can also improve one’s mood; for mobile seniors, a dog is a great companion who will keep them physically active and socialized. I’ve found that caring for a moringa tree helped my mother-in-law’s depression.
7. Show them they’re loved
Showing your seniors that you love and need them by listening to them and hugging them frequently can help keep their depression under control. Expressions of love are especially important for widowed seniors who need more support and affection to deal with grief.
8. Seek professional help
Changes in appetite and behavior can be signs of depression; seek help from a mental health professional and enroll the senior in counseling; alternative medicine, such as aromatherapy or occupational therapy, may be a better option in less serious cases to help you manage your symptoms.
9. Keep an eye on pills
If a family member is taking antidepressants, you may need to assist them in managing their medication, such as reminding them to take their daily dose and keeping an eye on the medicine cabinet for signs of abuse or missed doses.
10. Consider home care
You can hire someone to check in on senior family members who are living independently once a day, and a personal assistant or nanny can help with day-to-day chores like grocery shopping and bathing.
What is the most effective treatment for depression in older adults?
According to research, psychotherapy is just as likely to be an effective first treatment for depression in older adults as taking an antidepressant, and some older adults would rather get counseling or psychotherapy for depression than take more medications for other conditions.
How do you cheer up the elderly?
How to Make Your Elderly Loved Ones Feel Better
- Listen and learn. There is no denying that we live in an ageist society.
- Go through photos and mementos with them.
- Ask them to dance.
- Play games, puzzles, and other activities with them.
What is the most common cause of depression in older adults?
The loss of a spouse or partner, as well as the death of friends, family members, and pets, are all common causes of depression in older adults.
What are the most important strategies for coping with depression among older adults?
Depression is commonly treated with the following methods:
- Medications for depression that may balance hormones that affect mood, such as serotonin
- Psychotherapy, counseling, or “talk therapy” that can help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behavior.
What actually causes depression?
According to research, depression is caused by a variety of factors such as faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical issues, rather than simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals.
What is the best anti anxiety medication for elderly?
Buspirone, an anti-anxiety drug that has been shown to be effective in older adults, and benzodiazepines, another anti-anxiety drug that is effective but should be prescribed with caution in older adults due to the risk of memory loss, unsteadiness, and falls.
How do you make an elderly person happy?
These seven suggestions are ideal for any senior who wishes to live a happy retirement.
- Maintain a Sense of Humor.
- Go Outside Every Day.
- Give Back to the Community.
- Keep Smiling.
- Discover New Interests.
- Stay Healthy.
- Give Back to the Community.
How do you comfort an elderly person?
9 Ways to Console a Dying Loved One
- Don’t Ask How You Can Help.
- Don’t Force Them to Talk About Their Situation.
- Listen with an Open Mind and Heart.
- Assist Them in Overcoming Their Fears.
- Assist Them in Maintaining Their Dignity and Control.
- Reassure Them That Their Life Matters.
- Share in Their Faith.
- Create a Peaceful Atmosphere.
How often should an elderly woman bathe?
1. Seniors do not need to bathe every day. While most Americans are accustomed to showering every day, it is not a strict requirement for good health. Bathing once or twice a week is sufficient for most seniors to avoid skin breakdown and infections.
How do you know when an elderly person is giving up?
The following are signs that the body is actively shutting down:
- Weak pulse.
- Changes in consciousness, sudden outbursts, unresponsiveness.
- Noisy breathing.
- Glassy eyes.
- Cold extremities.
- Purple, gray, pale, or blotchy skin on knees, feet, and hands.
- Weak pulse.
What age group has the highest rate of depression?
Women were more likely than men to experience mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression. The percentage of adults who experienced any symptoms of depression was highest among those aged 18u201329 (21.0%), followed by those aged 45u201364 (18.4%) and 65 and over (18.4%), and finally, those aged 30u201344 (16.8%).
What is considered old age for a woman?
The old age threshold for women is around 73, and for men it is around 70.
What is the most serious symptom of depression?
Feelings of hopelessness, irritability, loss of pleasure, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, or thoughts of death or suicide are all signs of severe depression. 1 Technically, severe depression isn’t a formal mental health diagnosis; rather, it refers to depression that is more debilitating in nature.
Why would an elderly patient being treated for depression not improve with medication?
When older people are unable to take traditional antidepressants due to side effects or interactions with other medications, when depression is severe and interferes with basic daily functions (such as eating, bathing, and grooming), or when the risk of suicide is high, ECT is often a safe and effective alternative.
Why is depression overlooked in older persons?
Because depressive symptoms often co-occur with other problems that older adults face, they are often overlooked and untreated; older people with depressive symptoms have lower functioning than those with chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, hypertension, or diabetes.