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How Does Depression in the Elderly Differ from
Depression in
Younger People?
Depression in later
life frequently coexists with other medical illnesses and
disabilities. In addition, advancing age is often accompanied by
loss of key social support systems due to the death of a spouse or
siblings, retirement and/or relocation of residence. Because of
their change in circumstances and the fact that they're expected to
slow down, doctors and family may miss the diagnosis of depression
in elderly people, delaying effective treatment. As a result, many
seniors find themselves having to cope with symptoms that could
otherwise be easily treated.
Depression tends to last longer in elderly adults. It also doubles
their risk to develop cardiac diseases and increases their risk of
death from illness, while reducing their ability to rehabilitate.
Studies of nursing home patients with physical illnesses have shown
that the presence of depression substantially increased the
likelihood of death from those illnesses. Depression also has been
associated with increased risk of death following a heart attack.
For that reason, making sure that an elderly person you are
concerned about is evaluated and treated is important, even if the
depression is mild.
Depression in the elderly is more likely to lead to suicide. The
risk of suicide is a serious concern among elderly patients with
depression. Elderly white men are at greatest risk, with suicide
rates in people ages 80 to 84 more than twice that of the general
population. The National Institute of Mental Health considers
depression in people age 65 and older to be a major public health
problem.
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