Five Tips for Noticing and Preventing Senior Depression
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 When seniors don’t have the companionship that they need, they tend to become isolated and withdrawn, which leads directly to depression.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.
The Care Street mission is straightforward and compelling: to provide a comprehensive range of the highest quality home health services in a professional and efficient manner that will enhance our clients' quality of life and empower families to keep their loved one at home.
Care Street has earned a reputation of excellence among hundreds of families, and is recommended by medical professionals and hospital discharge planners throughout the State.
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