Research demonstrates that the elderly want to stay in their homes as long as possible. Yet the older a loved one gets, the more difficult independence becomes. We believe companion care can help. Over the coming weeks we will discuss how companion caregivers can help overcome 10 major challenges faced by the elderly and by their families and loved ones. Please contact us at 888-791-8449 or Stay at Home if you have questions or would like more information.
Depression among the elderly is very, very common.
Certainly this is understandable. Our senior citizen clients have almost always gone through heartbreaking losses: of a spouse, of family, of friends, of other loved ones. To make matters worse, the elderly are forced to witness their own bodies become more frail. Their eyesight and hearing become weaker, and they must grapple with aches and pains and other physical problems.
On top of that, they are often physically isolated. Even family members who are nearby can be busy with other obligations and responsibilities. Sometimes there is no family nearby. We find that physical isolation guarantees depression among the elderly, so it’s no wonder that antidepressants are among the most common medications prescribed to the elderly.
But depression is not just an emotional problem. Depression medications are not good news for senior citizens. They can be hard on the body. They often make seniors groggy, and grogginess leads to falls. To make things worse, when an elderly person is both taking depression medications and failing to eat well (another symptom of depression), it’s almost a given that they’ll have an incident.
We at Stay at Home understand the hazards that come with depression, and we can help. When we visit our elderly clients, even if we’re just there for an hour of light housekeeping, we give them something to look forward to. That hour of housekeeping often turns into two, three, or four hours of conversation.
When we visit, our clients are no longer isolated; they have regular visits from a friend. They have something to look forward to. And that regular interaction can help make the difference between a life that is enjoyable and one that is depressing.