¶ … Elderly and their Risk of Depression
Until just recently geriatric depression was not regarded as a medical diagnosis, however, with the elderly suicide rate being the highest in the country it has now come to the forefront of medical research. There are numerous reasons for depression in anyone, at any age, but it seems to plague the elderly at a much higher rate. This is due to a variety of reasons. One factor is the health condition of elderly people who ultimately become victims of a medical ailment by sixty-five years of age. This enhances the chances of depression substantially. Another major reason for geriatric depression is the loss a spouse, in which the passing of our significant other becomes such a traumatic experience that reclusiveness, denial, and ultimately depression are resorted to.
It has been recently acknowledged that insomnia is another cause of geriatric depression, often diagnosed as a sleeping disorder instead of a major participant and contributor of depression. These are just a few causes of this dark, lonely medical misconception. As we embark on the theories of depression and the current roles of nurses' interaction with the depressed elderly, the reason for research reform becomes apparent. A few of the problems with the solution is the resistance of the elderly to acknowledge and accept proven treatments. Late-life depression affects about 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older, but only 8% to 10% receive treatment (Reynolds & Kupner, 1999). Older patients with significant symptoms of depression have roughly 50% higher healthcare costs than non-depressed seniors (Reynolds & Kupner, 1999). Thus, it becomes difficult for the elderly to maintain medical bills in addition to other medical costs.
As we analyze treatment for geriatric depression, the causes and effects of this silent predator must be understood. Depression later in life frequently coexists with other medical illnesses and disabilities. Advancing age is often accompanied by the loss of social support systems due to the death of a spouse or siblings, retirement or relocation of residence. Furthermore, depression tends to last longer in elderly adults and increases their risk of death. Studies of nursing home patients with physical illnesses have shown that the presence of depression substantially increased the likelihood of death from those illnesses (Lee, 2001)....
Changes in the brain such as decreased adaptive capacity, neurotransmitter and receptor changes, cognitive impairment, and dementia increase the risk of depression, as more factors enter the equation and the patient becomes more depressed, the likelihood of a suicide attempts increases (McFarland, 2005).As previously mentioned, diagnosing depression in the elderly can be a challenging task due to all of the factors involved. When considering if an individual is depressed,
A., MD, and Mermin, J. (2012). HIV infection and older Americans: The public health perspective. American Journal of Public Health, 102(8), 1516-1526. Cooperman, N.A., Arnsten, J.H., and Klein, R.S. (2007). Current sexual activity and risky sexual behavior in older men with or at risk for HIV infection. AIDS Education and Prevention, 19(4), 321-33. Hutton, H.E., Lyketsos, C.G., Zenilman, J.M., Thompson, R.E., and Erbelding, E.J. (2004). Depression and HIV risk behaviors among patients
Elderly Population With Diabetes AGE MATTERS Elderly Diabetes Epidemiology: Definition and Description Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and factors to health conditions in particular populations and its application to the control of these health conditions (NCCDPHP, 2004). The shortest description of the work of epidemiologists is that they count and compare data of cases of disease or injuries in a given population. Then they compare these data with those of another or
Many experience depressions and sudden mood swings. The abuse of drugs -- prescription or illegal -- can also lead to disorientation, memory loss and having new difficulties in making decisions (Blow 2003). Given these effects, the recognition of drug abuse among the elderly population is quite an important task. The recognition of these symptoms, however, is made more complicated by the fact that many members of the elderly population already
Discussion Depression can have profound and devastating effects on individuals, including the elderly. Since the elderly population is continually aging, it is important that factors involved in treatment interventions for depression among the elderly be investigated to its fullest extent. The purpose of this study is to illuminate the effectiveness of different treatment modalities among the elderly and the influence that personality traits have on outcomes. This proposal aimed to ask
Depression in the Elderly Although many of the elderly citizens in the United States in the future will enjoy better health than in years past, many will still suffer from various age-related healthcare and mental health problems as they grow older that may contribute to the development of depressive disorders. In fact, older people in particular have a number of factors working against them that appear to contribute to the incidence
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now