From Blue to You
Depression and Older Adults
What is depression?
• A common mental disorder or illness
• Involves the body, mood, and thoughts
How common is depression?
• 15 percent of those over age 65
• As high as 25 percent of nursing home
residents
What are the symptoms?
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Physical symptoms
• Emotional symptoms
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Psychosocial symptoms
Symptoms look different in older
adults
• Anxiety
• Worries about being a burden
• Memory problems
• Slowed movement
• Irritability
• Lack of interest in personal care
• Unexplained or aggravated aches and pains
• Talk about death and dying
Stigma
• Listen to what these older adults say about
depression
• Focus on their thoughts and feelings about
stigma
What do you hear about stigma?
• Talk therapy
Treatment
• Medication therapy
• Combination: talk and medication therapy
What to do if you think you have
depression
• Get informed
• Participate in
activities you enjoy
• Avoid alcohol and
drugs
• Maintain a healthy
diet
• Connect to others
• Exercise
• Get help
• Don’t get upset if you
can’t sleep
What do you do if an older family
member has depression
• Get help
• Offer emotional support
• Invite your loved one out
• Plan and prepare healthy meals
• Watch for suicide warning signs
References
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AARP (2008). Dispelling myths about depression. Retrieved from www.aarp.org
Ballas, C. (2005). Depression in the elderly: The basics. Retrieved from www.mydepressionconnection.com
Beyond Blue (2008). Depression in older people fact sheet. Retrieved from www.beyondblue.org
Duckworth, K. (2006). About mental illness: Depression. Retrieved from
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&Cont
entID=23039&lstid=326
Healthy Place (2006). Elderly depression ignored. Retrieved from
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/elderly_5.asp
Healthy Place (2006). Depression in Elderly. Retrieved from
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/elderly.asp
Jeste, D. V. (2003). Depression in older persons. Retrieved from
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=17
624
Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Depression. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175
Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Alzheimer's or depression: Could it be both? Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers/HQ00212
Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Depression: Supporting loved ones through their battle with depression. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/MH00016
NIMH (2008). Depression in Elderly Men http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/men-and-depression/depression-inelderly-men.shtml
Nutrition Health Center (2008). Depression Statistics Information. Retrieved from http://www.add-adhd-helpcenter.com/Depression/statistics.htm
Segal, J., Jaffe, J., Davies, P. & Smith, M. (2007). Depression in older adults and the elderly: Recognizing the signs and
getting help. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_elderly.htm#signs
For More Information…
www.bluetoyou.org
Leigh Ann Simmons; MFT, PhD
former Assistant Professor
Department of Family Studies
Ester Edwards, BS
Graduate student
Department of Family Studies
Leslie Crofford, MD
Professor,
College of Medicine
Health Education through Extension Leadership
The development of the HEEL program was made possible by
Senator Mitch McConnell with funds earmarked for the University
of Kentucky, College o f Agriculture, Lexington Ky. and budgeted
through the CSREES/USDA Federal Administration.
April 2010
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