Depression in Later Life
Depression in Later Life
The term depression is often used to describe a temporary depressed mood when we "feel blue". The illness Depression can vary from mild to severe symptoms. Mild Depression can have a limiting effect on everyday life, for example difficulty with concentrating whereas severe Depression has a major impact on daily life causing problems with eating, sleeping and other everyday activities.
Depression is more common than Dementia in older people but we don't always want to talk about it. It is thought to affect up to 1 in 4 older people but it is not always recognised or treated.
The symptoms of Depression are:
- Lose interest in life and things that used to be enjoyed
- Withdraw from family and friends
- Reduced concentration & attention, self esteem and self confidence
- Loss of appetite or lost weight
- Neglecting appearance/personal hygiene
- Moving more slowly than usual
- Wringing hands/pacing the room
- Complaining of feeling old or worthless
- Crying a lot for no apparent reason
- Have difficulty in remembering things
- Have unexplained aches and pains
- Sleep disturbance
- Despair
- Missing important medication
Depression is diagnosed when people experience at least two of the above symptoms for the most of the day, nearly everyday, for at least two weeks.
If you have any of these symptoms please contact your GP who will be able to help. The earlier it is detected the easier it can be to treat, so learning to spot the warning signs is important.
Social Prescribing for Older People with Depression
Age Concern Support Services is working with GPs to encourage 'social prescribing'.
Social prescribing is a mechanism for linking people with Depression with non-medical sources of support within the community (i.e. befriending, social activity, exercise class etc) and can be developed as an alternative response to mental distress.
We hope to show that the benefits of social prescribing are:
- reduced levels of frequent attendance (i.e. more than 12 visits to GP per year)
- reduced levels of inappropriate prescribing of antidepressants for mild to moderate depression.