Depression in the elderly

[mojobanana]

Hi all,

does anyone have any experience of depression in the elderly? My grandad has been going through a bit of a patch recently and even though I've been through a bout of depression myself, I have no idea what to do or how...

It doesn't help that I live over a hundred miles away. I'd like to be able to do something, but don't really know how to relate to him.

Any ideas/thoughts welcome.
Jo

[Lollyhoney]

I'm a nurse and have dealt with this on occasions. I think it may be down to lack of stimulation, lonelyness, feeling useless as no one needs to rely on them and various other reasons such as health and wellbeing. Have you discussed his social situation with him? Does he go out and talk to people everyday? Has he got friends for company? Has he enough to do??

You dont say how old or how able he is, how about he does some voluntering at his local hospital, where he could help make teas, collect requests for the radio stations, or just visit people who dont have visitors? If he's not up to that how about lunchoen clubs or daycentres (who can arrange transport thee and back). How about him having a pet?

Hope thats useful to you x

[Altosruleok]

It can also be triggered off by a lack of vitamins. Elderly people should take a multivitamin pill daily because, even if they eat well, they don't always absorb vitamins as well as they used to so need an extra slug of them.

You can write to him regularly, enclosing photos, drawings, anecdotes.....you know, anything to give him a chuckle or a feeling of love.

You can ring him too. I have an aunt of 96 who lives about 100 miles away from me. I ring her nearly every evening, just for about two minutes. She never wants to say much apart from to tell me what's on television (!), but she feels good just knowing that I care enough to ring.

[woofgang]

if he wakes up stiff in the morning and has aches in the neck, shoulders, hips or lower back it might be a symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica which is s treatable condition.

[woofgang]

information here

http://www.arc.org.uk/about_arth/booklets/6032/6032.htm

[tellboy]

No matter how many times people answer this sort of question it does not seem to stick.

"Depression" and being "fed up, and sad and a misery guts " are just not the same thing. It is best to see a Doctor and hope it is a understanding one.

[WendyS]

Your granddad may be very conscious that his life is ebbing away and possibly feeling regrets about ambitions that will never be accomplished. If you're far away, buck him up by sending regular little notes to make him feel wanted, even if it's just newspaper cuttings about funny incidents with a little note attached saying "Did you see this?". If he's getting bored with TV, he may be able to borrow interesting audio CD or cassete books from his local library. If you're able to contact his local borough council they may be able to put you in touch with some volunteer organisations who could pay him a visit from time to time.

[mojobanana]

Thanks to everyone who posted a response. I've got a few ideas, such as the vitamins, and I had thought of sending notes and cards, etc. to show I'm thinking about him, so now I've got a few ideas of what to send. It's his 93rd birthday this week, so I can start for that!

I always joked he had a better social life than I did, he goes out 3 to 4 times a week, but all thr friends that lived around him have no died. He's the only 'oldie' in his street now. My mother's very keen for him to go into a wardened apartment complex, not an old people's home. He's capable of looking after himself, with my mother to do some shopping and the odd bit of cleaning, but she's been doing that for years. I think that would help with company, but allow him to maintain his independence.

I can't see him having a pet though! He's not a fan of cats and dogs. He's also not that mobile anymore, he has trouble moving around for long periods so volunteering's out as he's too proud to sit in a wheelchair.

I'll mention to my mother about the polymyalgia rheumatica though. He does have unexplained aches and pains in his hips and back.

Thanks again to everyone.
Jo