Palliser Primary Care Network

Depression In Seniors

Tara Carter
September 4, 2024

Depression is a very real and serious mood disorder that affects many older adults. According to the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health, approximately 20% of older adults living at home and 40% of those living in hospitals or long-term care suffer from some level of depression (CCSMH, 2024).

Everyone has times when they feel down or sad, but if these feelings last for weeks or months, they could be dealing with true depression (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024). Signs that an older adult may be experiencing depression include (National Institute on Aging, 2021):

• feeling sad or anxious
• feeling hopeless, guilty, or worthless
• experiencing feelings of helplessness
• irritability
• loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• restlessness
• decreased energy or fatigue
• difficulty concentrating or remembering things
• trouble sleeping or oversleeping
• changes in eating patterns (weight loss or weight gain)
• thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is not a normal part of aging. The most common cause of depression in the senior population is social isolation or loneliness. As people age, some lose loved ones, many experience memory issues, and some have to move out of their homes and into higher care facilities, where, oftentimes, they don’t know very many people. They can experience caregiver and/or financial stress, difficulty sleeping, declining health or addiction/alcoholism issues (National Institute on Aging, 2021). According to a study based out of the UK in 2022, the COVID pandemic increased the incidence of depression in older adults dramatically and the most common cause was the social isolation (National Library of Medicine, 2022).

So, what can we do to help older adults that are suffering from depression? Here in Medicine Hat, we can help direct them to their family physician, Behavioral Health Consultants in their doctor’s office, psychiatrists, psychologists, Mental Health and Addictions services, and local geriatricians. There are also many resources to get our older population out and about to decrease social isolation and loneliness. Some of these resources are the Veiner Centre, Caring Hearts, Good Samaritan Society day programs, senior workout groups at the Big Marble Go (they have coffee after the gentle workout), and other recreation therapy groups.