Depression is not a normal part of aging. Late-life depression is more than just feeling sad or down in the dumps, it is a serious medical illness affecting approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65 in the United States. When depression occurs in late life, it sometimes can be a relapse of an earlier depression. But when it occurs for the first time in older adults, it is often brought on by another medical illness. When someone is already ill, depression can be both more difficult to recognize and more difficult to endure.
The most common symptoms of late-life depression include:
- persistent sadness (lasting two weeks or more)
- feeling slowed down
- excessive worries about finances and health problems
- frequent tearfulness
- feeling worthless or helpless
- weight changes
- pacing and fidgeting
- difficulty sleeping
- difficulty concentrating
- physical symptoms such as aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not ease with treatment
- thoughts of death, suicide, or suicide attempts
- increased isolation
- decreased interest in activities that were once pleasurable
Late-life depression is a medical illness that stems from a complex interaction of biological, psychological and social factors. Older adults who have had depression when they were younger are more at risk for developing depression in late life than those who did not have the illness earlier in life. The risk of late-life depression increases with other illnesses and when the ability to function becomes limited.
Common causes and risk factors of late-life depression include:
- new medical illness
- poor health status
- heart attack/myocardial infarction
- coronary heart disease
- chronic pain
- hip fracture
- loss of vision or hearing
- arthritis
- stroke
- obesity
- diabetes
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Vascular Dementia
- stressful life events and daily hassles
- poor physical functioning status
- grief and loss
- financial concerns
- loneliness
- traumatic events
- loss of independence
- caregiving for a loved one with dementia
- lack of social support
Untreated late-life depression is very serious and can lead to physical disability, worsen symptoms of other illnesses, and lead to premature death and death by suicide.
Our therapists at Comforts of Home Counseling have specialized training and a wealth of experience with working with late-life depression.