Elderly Care Sharon MA
September 5 through 11 is Suicide Prevention Week. While this is something that many people think of as only being an issue for younger people, the truth is that depression and suicidal tendencies can and do happen in elderly adults as well. In fact, approximately 25 percent of deaths that occur due to self-inflicted causes happen among the adult population of seniors aged 60 years and older. Depression and anxiety are common mental health disorders among older adults, increasing the risk that your aging parent will experience self-harm compulsions or the loss of motivation to take care of themselves. As with most other health conditions and complications, early detection of depression is key to ensuring that your aging loved one gest the proper diagnosis and then gets on the course of care or treatment that is right for them.
Some of the signs and symptoms that your aging parent might be suffering from depression include:
• Hopelessness
• Pervasive pessimism
• High levels of guilt, especially without cause
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Expressing a sense of helplessness
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• No longer wanting to participate in the activities and hobbies that they once enjoyed
• No longer wanting to spend time with the people they love
• Fatigue
• Sleeping excessively
• New or worsened insomnia
• New or worsened difficulties with concentration, judgment, or making appropriate decisions
• Waking up too early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep
• Excessive overeating and weight gain
• Appetite loss and serious weight loss
• Persistent physical pain, including muscle aches, headaches, bone aches, or stiffness
• Digestive problems
Elderly adults are at particular risk of suffering from depression and the serious consequences that can result from it. Approximately 80 percent of senior adults are suffering from at least one chronic health issue or illness, and around 50 percent are dealing with two or more at any given time. The rates of depression are higher among those who are dealing with other health complications, particularly those who are also dealing with severe issues or serious prognoses, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, or cardiovascular disease, or when their physical or cognitive functioning are restricted.
If you are concerned that your elderly parent might be suffering from depression, now may be the time for you to consider elder care for them. An elderly home care services provider can provide valuable social interaction, companionship, and support that can help to break through depression and reduce the risk that your parent will develop depression or suffer worsened symptoms. This can include sharing conversation, enjoying hobbies and activities together, supporting a greater sense of independence and autonomy, and even providing reliable transportation so that your parent can get out into the world around them and engage more often. A care provider can also act as an extension of the care that you give, monitoring your parent’s condition and providing you with valuable information about their condition so that you can make important decisions about their ongoing care, treatment, and support.
Sources: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs381/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/aging/mentalhealth/depression.htm
If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care Services in Sharon MA, or anywhere in Eastern Massachusetts, please call the caring staff at CARE Resolutions – (508) 906-5572.
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