Five Tips for Noticing and Preventing Senior Depression

By Care Street Home Care Staff | November 3, 2023 | Comments Off on Five Tips for Noticing and Preventing Senior Depression
Companion Care at Home in Plainsboro NJ

Companion Care at Home in Plainsboro NJ

So many seniors don’t realize that they’re battling depression. The symptoms can start out in very subtle ways, gradually increasing in intensity over time. There are lots of solutions that can help aging adults to manage their depression, including working with companion care at home. The trick is first to recognize depression and put those solutions to work.

Understand Common Symptoms of Senior Depression

Some of the symptoms of depression in seniors might not be obvious to family caregivers. Withdrawing socially, losing interest in normal daily activities, and expressing persistent feelings of sadness are signs to be aware of in seniors. Other symptoms could include physical symptoms without an obvious cause, cognitive changes, changes in sleeping habits, and unintentional weight changes. Spotting these symptoms indicates it’s time to talk with a doctor.

Talk about What’s Going On

It isn’t always easy to talk about these difficult emotions and situations, especially for seniors. They might worry that their feelings don’t matter or that there’s not anything that can be done to help them feel better. That’s not the case, however, so it’s important to open up the lines of communication about what’s happening and what solutions might help. Starting with a trip to the doctor rules out medical causes.

Promote Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Healthy lifestyle choices, like sleeping enough, eating right, and getting enough physical activity, are part of the recommended solutions for all sorts of health problems. There are big reasons for this, including the fact that these basic decisions provide a foundation for overall better health. It’s a lot easier for seniors to make these choices when they have help from elder care providers.

Enlist the Help of Companion Care at Home

One of the major causes of depression in seniors is a lack of socialization. When seniors don’t have the companionship that they need, they tend to become isolated and withdrawn, which leads directly to depression. Companion care at home can solve that problem very easily for seniors, especially ones who do not have friends and family members who are able to visit.

Encourage Respite Time for Family Caregivers

It’s also important for family caregivers to have time for respite. When family caregivers are overworked and overwhelmed, it can be a lot more difficult for them to properly notice things like depression creeping into their seniors’ daily lives. Having home care available ensures that seniors have plenty of opportunities for socialization and that family caregivers have respite coverage available.

Senior depression is a serious issue that really can’t continue to be ignored. Recognizing what is happening and then bringing in companion care at home as well as other solutions can do so much to alleviate these issues. Not every solution is right for every senior’s situation, either. It helps immensely for families to explore the various options available and try a few out. Finding out what works and what doesn’t is going to provide lasting results that truly address the problem and get seniors back to the quality of life that they deserve.

If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Plainsboro, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.

Care Street Home Care Staff
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