Caregivers and Elderly Face Holiday Blues - More Attention is Essential For Mental Health, According To ElderCarelink.ASHLAND, Mass. -- The National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the federal government of the United States and the largest research organization in the world specializing in mental illness. considers depression in people 65 and older to be a major health problem, with some six million seniors suffering from late-life depression, which is often magnified during the holidays. While the rest of the world is busy shopping, planning family gatherings, and attending festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. , the elderly can be easily overlooked. "Holidays can evoke strong emotions in all of us, but for the elderly and their caregivers the joy of the season can often be overwhelmed by the challenges they face," noted Robert Brooks
Depression in the elderly can be triggered by a number of factors, including physical limitations, declining health, retirement, isolation from family and friends, a change in living arrangements or ongoing financial constraints. All of these factors are heightened during the holidays when the feeling of isolation can become magnified. Family caregivers and other helping professionals need to be able to prevent, recognize, and manage depression in the elderly before it escalates. Left untreated, depression can lead to major declines in health, including a higher risk of heart problems, loss of independence, and greater need for daily caregiving assistance. Depression can also lead to suicide. Some signs of depression in elderly people include: * Loss of the will to live; questioning the value of their life * Unwilling to get out of bed or get dressed Verb 1. get dressed - put on clothes; "we had to dress quickly"; "dress the patient"; "Can the child dress by herself?" dress primp, preen, dress, plume - dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera" in the morning * Showing little interest in themselves or those around them * Loss of appetite loss of appetite Medtalk Anorexia, see there ; changes in sleeping patterns * Persistent sadness that lasts more than a month * Withdrawal from social activities * Excessive worry * Inability to concentrate, slowed responses Preventing depression in the elderly during the holiday season may be as simple as making sure that they feel needed and included in family activities. "Time is always in short supply during the holidays, and most of us tend to overextend o·ver·ex·tend tr.v. o·ver·ex·tend·ed, o·ver·ex·tend·ing, o·ver·ex·tends 1. To expand or disperse beyond a safe or reasonable limit: overextended their defenses. 2. ourselves -- leading to added stress and anxiety. It is too easy to overlook elderly family members and friends at this time of year, and they may not always be able to verbalize why they are feeling sad or depressed," Brooks observed. "Keeping them actively involved during the holiday season will remind them that they are important and vital members of the family." About ElderCarelink ElderCarelink, a leading provider of qualified lead generation services within the eldercare eld·er·care n. Social and medical programs and facilities intended for the care and maintenance of the aged. industry, assists families in finding a multitude of senior services, including assisted living as·sist·ed living n. A living arrangement in which people with special needs, especially older people with disabilities, reside in a facility that provides help with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, and taking medication. , nursing homes, adult day care, private duty nursing, care management and homecare in all 50 states. More about finding eldercare assistance or joining our network of providers can be found at ElderCarelink.com. |
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