This discussion occurred during a recent taping of the KEOM 88.5FM Community Focus segment. Barb was interviewed by Dr. James Griffin. This segment deals with depression in the elderly.

Dr. Griffin: I understand that today's topic will be on depression and the elderly, Barb?

Barb: Depression in later life affects about 6 million people who are age 65 and older. Unfortunately, a very small percentage of elders actually receive some type of treatment for their depression. Many people think that feelings of depression are just a part of the aging process: one gentleman said that, "Well, I've lived longer and, so, I've just got more things to feel bad about!."� And, in some ways that's true - physical and health issues certainly take their toll, more and more friends and family members have passed away, retirement and relocation of residences all impact a person's ability to cope on a daily basis. It's understandable to feel sad about these types of loses. But when these sad feelings become more consistent they can affect a person's health and lead to major depression.

Dr. Griffin: Is depression in the elderly different from depression among younger people?

Barb: In addition to having to cope with more and more loses, depression seems to last for a longer period of time with the elderly, depression just about doubles a person's risk of getting cardiac disease, and the elderly are more prone to commit suicide than younger depressed people. Actually, persons over the age of 65 and older account for around 19% of all deaths by suicide. Some risk factors for depression include being unmarried or widowed, being more isolated with few if any friends or family members, having other health factors such as having had a stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease and dementia. Likewise chronic or severe pain can also play a role in depression.

Dr. Griffin: Why is that that so few elders actually seek treatment for their depression?

Barb: I'm sure that there a plenty of reasons but many folks have told me that they just feel like they should be able to "get over"� their depression. Kind of like "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" mentality. Furthermore, they may feel a type of stigma attached to seeking mental health and feel uncomfortable telling a doctor about how they are feeling emotionally "That's very different from telling a doctor about a physical ache or pain. Lastly, they may be apprehensive about taking an anti-depressant medication because of a fear of becoming dependent upon a pill. While all of these concerns may be understandable, we try to explain that depression IS a disease and that just as you would take insulin for your diabetes, it's important to seek treatment for your depressive disease. The point is that depression in the elderly is a major health problem and the symptoms of depression need to be assessed and addressed, not minimized or ignored.

Dr. Griffin: What are some treatments that are available for persons with depression, Barb?

Barb: Well, first and foremost, one would need to get a thorough evaluation from his or her doctor. Contacting a Geriatric internist or psychiatrist would be a great place to start. The doctor will want to know about ALL medications that the patient is taking (actually, some drug interactions can cause depressive symptoms), will ask health history questions, will ask many questions to rule out other health problems. If the person is diagnosed with major depression, treatments may include medicine, counseling (and studies suggest that the combination of anti-depressants along with counseling can have a better effect), the doctor may prescribe a change in diet and eating habits, may suggest regular exercise, such as walking, etc. If medication is prescribed, take the medicine AS prescribed and tell the doctor about any unpleasant side-effects. Another medication may work better. Lastly, try to keep involved with other people, as remaining socially active is so important to good over-all health.