November 1, 2013 | Mental Health
As people age they encounter many losses along the way. Family members and friends pass away. Some lose functional abilities (i.e., driving or the ability to walk without assistance), or experience memory loss. These types of losses and changes often lead to depression among older adults. More than 6.5 million of the 35 million Americans aged 65 years or older experience depression (source: National Alliance on Mental Illness).
Depression is not a normal part of aging. It’s a medical condition that should be treated as such, and often manifests differently in older adults. If your loved one is showing any of the following symptoms they may be suffering from depression:
- Memory problems
- Confusion
- Social withdrawal
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Vague complaints of pain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Irritability
- Delusions (fixed false beliefs)
- Hallucinations
- Persistent and vague complaints
- Help-seeking behavior
- Moving more slowly
- Demanding behavior
Please talk to a
healthcare professional if you think your loved one may have depression.
The leading authorities suggest that the best practices for the treatment of depression include medication management combined with psychotherapy or talk therapy. However, many older adults may balk at taking medication for depression or seeing a therapist to talk about their problems. There is recent research to suggest that there is another option for the treatment of depression: Behavioral Action Therapy.
Behavioral Activation therapy is based on the premise that a change in behavior can result in improved mood. When an individual is depressed, they often withdraw from relationships and activities that had previously provided pleasure and a sense of purpose. The more one withdraws from enjoyable activity, the more depressed they become. This can become a vicious cycle of withdrawal from pleasurable activities leading to increased depression. (Todays Geriatric MedicineVol. 6 No. 5 P. 24)
Behavioral Activation Treatment consists of encouraging a depressed individual to partake in recreational, social, physical, and vocational activities from which they may have withdrawn. There is an emphasis on creating routine in one’s activities. For example: going out to eat with a friend every Monday for lunch, attending a painting class at the senior center on Wednesday afternoons, or calling family members on Fridays and catching up. Research has found that keeping a regular schedule of activities and events that are enjoyable to the individual increases mood and can decrease symptoms of depression over time (Todays Geriatric Medicine Vol. 6 No. 5 P. 24). This essentially can create an upward spiral in mood. Behavioral Activation Therapy is more than therapy; it’s a skill that people learn and build into their lives.
Family members can work with their loved ones to establish such routines. But families are busy, and cannot always ensure their loved one engages in the activities. A care manager can assist in developing a personalized activity schedule and working with a caregiver to ensure the schedule is upheld. A caregiver can provide your loved one with opportunities for socialization, including transportation to activities and reminders and encouragements to partake in scheduled activities. A care manager can attend medical appointments and follow up with health care providers to ensure symptoms of depression are abating.