I hate the world
elderly. Older is okay but elderly is
something that, even after years or working with older people in the health care
environment, sounds so frail and well, hopeless. Older people suffer an inordinate amount of
loss and it is not at all surprising that depression runs rampant in this age
group.
Still, working at an
assisted living facility, I am appalled by the number of people taking
medications for depression. The fault lays
both in the hands of the nursing staff and with the families because none of
them can stand watching someone who is clearly depressed.
Is long-term medication
management the answer? What about
therapy? Granted, the folks from our
parent’s generation were adverse to the idea of mental health therapy because
it was a sign or weakness, and what if everyone thought they were “crazy.”
This is a sad situation
because one of the causes of depression in the elderly is the loneliness
associated with social isolation.
Whether living alone or in a care facility people tend to isolate. Having someone to talk to for problem solving
as well as for company is a good idea.
Antidepressants have many
side effects and many of the side effects are the same as the symptoms that you
are being treated for. Hmmm…that makes
for an interesting conundrum doesn’t it?
Is mom dizzy or sleeping all of the time because she is depressed or
because the drugs are making her that way?
Studies show that talk
therapy works as well as drug therapy in many older folks, once the fear of
“craziness” is dealt with. Researchers
felt that therapy worked as well for seniors as it did for younger adults in
that the same number showed improvement, no improvement or some improvement as
in clinical drug trials.
As moods improved the
ability to function improves, as well as the ability to share and to problem
solve. Therapists agree (whether they
favor drug therapy, talk therapy, or a combination of both) that simple case management
and helping people connect with community services can help people turn the
corner.
Whether therapy comes in
form of a support group, peer-counseling through social services, or a therapy
interaction, it is goes along way toward decreasing social isolation. Group Therapy is becoming very popular now
that people are pinching pennies a bit more and this is probably a good thing. Groups create a realistic environment and are
effective therapy tools. Groups work
especially well for those experiencing the social isolation that accompanies
depression and anxiety. In a group,
people learn to help each other. It is
time to disavow ourselves of the notion that seeking help in form of therapy means
you are crazy.
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