Depression In Old Age: Causes, Detection, Therapy And Advice
Old age is a stage of human development full of neoformations and crises that many people have difficulty facing. Old age is associated in our culture as the stage of progressive decline in cognitive capacity. as well as the period in which the cessation of working life occurs.
Also This vital stage is linked to the progressive deterioration of the family role because in some cases elderly people may decide to go live far from those close to them, to places where they can retire to rest, meditate, or live pending a task that pleases them.
Likewise, old age is usually a stage of emotional difficulties since changes not only occur in the social, work or family aspect, but also some chronic diseases appear such as migraines, muscle pain, rheumatism, loss of sight and hearing. Psychological and mental disorders are evident in many cases, with symptoms of dementia, anxiety attacks and depression.
Precisely, one of the affective disorders that most frequently occur in old age is depression. The WHO states that more than one 20% of people over the age of 60 suffer from some type of depression a figure that will increase in the next 5 years according to different studies. Depression in old age is, therefore, a psychological disorder that mobilizes the efforts of the scientific community to try to reduce the rate of those affected.
Theories about old age: detecting the factors of depression in old age
Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development (1975) presents the stage of old age as the crisis stage between integrity of the self and the despair which reflects the need to positively influence the psychological health of elderly people so that they can face their time with the greatest well-being.
Many people conceive of old age as a limiting stage and degradation since it is no longer possible to carry out the same activities that were done before, adding this factor to the loneliness caused by the death of loved ones, precarious economic levels, lack of activity and isolation are some of the triggers that can cause depression in the elderly.
Residences or care homes receive dozens of older adults every year who are victims of depression, this being the second most prevalent disorder after dementia. Although the vast majority of family members tend to understand that the residences will be able to offer better medical and psychological follow-up to their elder, few are those who are by the grandfather’s side at this stage.
Old age means adapting to new changes, to a new lifestyle. It is the total consummation of the experiences learned in the course of the human journey, a source of knowledge and also a stage of experiences and longing for the years that remained in the past, and it is for that reason that when talking about depression in old age we must Keep in mind that one should not confuse one’s own symptoms with states of sadness and melancholy, which are mostly mild and temporary and are very common in this cycle. Not so, depression is a disorder that has a long duration and symptoms that indicate that there is an underlying illness that must be treated.
Depression at this stage can occur covertly, as indicated by Morice Caballero (2000), stating:
“Depression usually presents itself under the appearance of a paranoid picture or is hidden in insomnia, pain, or other symptoms that are difficult to integrate into a nosological picture.”
For an exact diagnosis, it must be carried out by integrating a medical, neurological and psychological evaluation. The first helps us confirm or rule out some type of anomaly that may exist and that influences the emotional state of the elderly adult, the second, to delve deeper into the field of the nervous system in order to rule out any alteration in the brain regions, or dementia. .
The psychological intervention will depend on the context in which the therapy must be developed. At times, the work will become difficult due to how complicated it can be to handle these types of cases and the slowness in achieving results. Many professionals agree that, more than a specialty of psychology, psychogerontology is an act of service that not all mental health professionals are qualified to perform, due to the difficulty it entails and the exceptional nature of each case.
How to help and intervene in an older adult with depression?
a) Each person is different and as such you must be prepared for any peculiarity that may require help for an older adult with depression. It should be remembered that at this stage it is common for patients to refuse to follow any type of treatment, whether medical or psychological. In these cases, the best thing to do is to patiently advise him to follow some type of treatment, and accompany him during it with the help of a family member.
b) Help keep appointments with the psychologist in mind and, if pharmacological therapy has been recommended (which in most cases is necessary), be attentive on the days when it is necessary for the older adult to take their medications.
c) Do activities that are pleasant, such as going for a walk, reading a book, listening to music etc. The important thing is to keep your mind working with activities that are helpful and learning in order to maintain your cognitive and physical abilities.
Old age is a cycle that we will all have to go through, so we must be prepared to know how to face it in the healthiest way. Old age should not be a stage of uncertainty and deterioration, but a stage that the person can fulfill in contact with their family, their friends and their daily lives.
