{"id":5077,"date":"2018-12-20T10:20:41","date_gmt":"2018-12-20T16:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=5077"},"modified":"2024-05-31T16:33:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T21:33:25","slug":"holidays-and-senior-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/holidays-and-senior-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Holidays and depression: What you should know"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Help for depression, anxiety or stress<\/p>\n

Try OSF SilverCloud<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Holidays can be the backbone of our relationships –\u00a0highlights in the histories of our lives. They are traditions that serve as the foundations for many families. But because of these ties, mental health professionals note an increase in depression\u00a0for seniors during the holidays.<\/p>\n

\u201cStatistics show that two million of the 34 million Americans age 65 and older suffer from some form of depression,\u201d said Mike Homan, family clinical care coordinator with Behavioral Health Services<\/a> at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony\u2019s Health Center<\/a>. \u201cNotably, only three percent receive treatment. It is important to remember that depression is a medical illness that can be treated with medication and\/or psychotherapy, and that the prognosis of older individuals is excellent when they seek treatment for this disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Causes for holiday depression<\/h2>\n

There are many reasons that the holidays may affect older individuals negatively, he noted. For instance, they may be more aware of the passing of time and the absence of parents, siblings and friends who have died, financial limitations, loss of independence, being separated from family and friends or loss of mobility. In addition, traditions that were observed in the past may not be possible for a variety of reasons including death, illness and injury. And in the absence of these traditions, a holiday\u2019s meaning can change<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone feels sad on occasion,\u201d Mike said. \u201cThe holidays may stir some feelings of separation; however, many individuals will recover as the holidays pass. Depression is different because it causes individuals to be unable to continue to function in their everyday lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Signs of depression<\/h2>\n

\"\"Signs of depression<\/a> include: the individual may not feel like taking a bath or shower, brushing their teeth, interacting with others or even eating meals. They may sleep nearly all day or they may have trouble falling or staying asleep. Sometimes depression can even make an individual feel like hurting themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the common symptoms of depression in older individuals include persistent sadness, withdrawal from social activities, slowed thinking, lack of energy, lack of interest in things that were once pleasurable, excessive worry, frequent tearfulness, feelings of worthlessness or helplessness, weight changes, changes in sleep patterns and concentration problems,\u201d Mike said.<\/p>\n

Recognizing depression<\/a> in older individuals can be difficult because often older individuals have a difficult time describing how they are feeling. In addition, depression is a diagnosis that was not available when these individuals were coming of age, and thus the illness is not understood as a biological illness. Rather, these individuals might feel like expressing depression is a character weakness, according to Mike.<\/p>\n

What you can do<\/h2>\n

To help people identify depression, OSF HealthCare<\/a> provides OSF SilverCloud<\/a> \u2013 an anonymous, secure and interactive platform that helps people manage the feeling and causes of depression, anxiety or stress. OSF SilverCloud is available on cell phones, computers or laptops.<\/p>\n

\u201cOSF SilverCloud consists of seven to eight interactive modules that can be completed in any order, typically over an eight to 10 week period,\u201d Mike said. \u201cThe modules include interactive journaling, mindfulness exercises, mood and lifestyle charting. It\u2019s a good way for people of all ages to cope with holiday depression.<\/p>\n

\u201cDepression is a medical condition. Left alone, depression not only prevents older adults from enjoying life as it could be, but it also takes a heavy toll on their health. If you believe you or a loved one is suffering from depression, you should consult with a mental health care provider.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Help for depression, anxiety or stress Try OSF SilverCloud Holidays can be the backbone of our relationships –\u00a0highlights in the histories of our lives. They are traditions that serve as the foundations for many families. But because of these ties, mental health professionals note an increase in depression\u00a0for seniors during the holidays. \u201cStatistics show that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":5158,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[734],"tags":[830,324,660,816],"coauthors":[687],"class_list":["post-5077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mental-health","tag-depression","tag-holidays","tag-osf-saint-anthonys","tag-silvercloud"],"yoast_head":"\nHolidays and senior depression: What you should know<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many of us will encounter bouts of depression as we age, particularly around the holiday season. For those age 65 or older, depression can be an overwhelming burden. 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