Late-life depression is a depression in the elderly aged 60 years and over
symptoms of depression can range from mild sadness to severe sadness with psychiatric symptoms. However, the most worrisome group is the group that has depression but does not show symptoms. If neglected, it can become life-threatening.
Therefore, family members must observe the symptoms, know the causes and understand this disease as much as possible so that our love ones can overcome this disease.
Causes of depression
Depression in the elderly is caused by genetics, personality traits, and the environment in which people live. The main causes of depression are divided into 2 types:
1. Physical.
Elderly people who suffer from depression are caused by abnormal neurotransmitters in the brain, causing abnormal moods to be unbalanced, which makes it easy to become depressed. Or illnesses, even if they do not directly affect the brain, can cause pain, stress and anxiety, such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer.
2. Mental.
When children have to go to work Leaving the elderly at home alone can make them feel lonely, useless, or lose a loved one. They often cannot accept it and do not want to do anything or see anyone. This is a dangerous sign of depression. For some elderly people, family members do not care about them, do not have society or friends to talk to, which can result in them developing depression.
Warning symptoms of depression
1. Mood changes, such as being in a good mood and becoming easily irritated, complaining, unreasonable, or less interested in things they used to like.
2. Feeling worthless, bored with life, talking less, having no appetite, refusing to take medicine, and losing weight.
3. Having problems sleeping, such as สมัคร ufabet insomnia, waking up half-awake, or waking up in the middle of the night.
4. Poor memory, short attention span.
5. Feeling like they do not want to live, wanting to hurt themselves, or saying, “I don’t want to live, I would rather die.” Lack of energy, doing things slowly, feeling exhausted for no reason.
How to treat elderly people with depression
1. Take care of and understand the patient’s feelings by talking and listening to each other more.
2. Keep sharp objects, weapons, or toxic substances out of the patient’s reach.
3. Do not leave the patient alone. There should always be someone taking care of them.
4. Do not reduce or increase the medicine yourself.
5. See your doctor regularly.