Depression in the Elderly Essay

Depression is one of the most recurrently investigated psychological disorders within the area of medical R&D (Montorio & Izal, 1996). A number of exhaustive researches have been carried out to study its symptoms and impacts on different patients belonging to different personal and professional attributes and most of these researchers depicted that depression in the elderly people is very frequent and in spite of number of researches in this context, it is often undiagnosed or untreated. To add to this jeopardy, it has also been estimated that only 10% out of the total depressed elderly individuals receive proper diagnosis and treatment (Holroyd et al, 2000). And for that reason, an authentic

Jensen, H. V., Munk, K. P., & Madsen, S. A. (2010). Gendering late-life depression? The coping process in a group of elderly men. Nordic Psychology, 62(2), 56-80. The purpose of this article. is to study the influences in the presentation of signs and symptoms of depression. This was done by observing the relationship between depressive symptoms in elderly men and analyzing by what means these men discuss, interpret, and the cope to stress. This study interviewed 8 elderly men, between the ages of sixty-six and eighty-nine, who were previously diagnosed with late-life depression. “The increase in suicide rates in older men poses a serious challenge in terms of better detection and diagnosis of depression, as the increase could suggest that there are a number of aging, depressive men who are not diagnosed and therefore remain untreated

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that accounts for sixty to seventy percent of Dementia cases. It is characterized by the development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the loss of connection between neurons in the brain and the death of nerve cells. There are two types of Alzheimer’s Early on-set Alzheimer’s which occur from the ages of thirty to sixty is very rare and makes up less than five percent of the cases of Alzheimer’s . The second type is Late on-set Alzheimer’s which is the most common type and it is found in those of ages sixty and up. The progression of Alzheimer’s is a lengthy progress from the time of diagnosis the average life expectancy is three to nine years. In the early stages people have difficulty with short term memory loss as the disease progresses symptoms include difficulties with language, disorientation, mood swings, loss of motivation, loss of self-care and behavioral issues. As Alzheimer’s progresses a person slowly withdraws from family life and society due to the jumbled state of their memory. On a physical level the body’s physical function slowly degenerates and eventually leads to death.

Scientists have actually come up with some preventative measures against Alzheimer’s and the onset of this horrendous disease. Physical activity, brain stimulation (such as puzzles, games, regularly reading, watching television, and any other type of social activity), nutritious diet, and also there is an ongoing search for a vaccine. I saw where in Europe they actually treat their age-related dementia patients with gingko biloba. Gingko biloba is thought

Arm yourself with as much information as you can: While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s there’s more information available now than there ever used to be. From senior care tips on creating a consistent schedule to slowing

In 2011, the first of the Baby Boomers – the 78 million men and women born between 1946 and 1964 – will begin turning 65 at a rate of more than 8,000 per day. By year's end, the nation's senior population will have increased by almost 3 million, to nearly 49 million. By 2025, then, the total will reach 72 million – more than double the 35 million at the turn of the new century. (Home Instead Senior Care, 2010). Millions of Americans with chronic diseases and disabilities, like Alzheimer's, heart failure, kidney disease, and diabetes, need careful monitoring but do not want enter a nursing home or skilled care facility. I can recall my grandfather would only agree to go to the doctor's office if he was certain he could return

My basic knowledge of Alzheimer’s and dementia comes from my work experience and from my classes. I’ve also attended many educational Alzheimer’s seminars, and I know that maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding mind-alternating drugs, and sleeping more all help in preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s.

The elderly are the fastest expanding demographic of American’s population – those 65 years old and older are expected to comprise 20% of the US population by 2050, according to the US Census Bureau. It is projected that by 2050 there will also be 19 million people aged 85 or older. It is indicated in research that 40% of people over the age of 65 will enter a nursing home before they die. (Murtaugh, kember,spillman, & Carlson, 1997) Some of these elderly people are faced with the difficult decision of being placed in a nursing home simply because they are incapable of caring for themselves anymore or that their loved ones are too busy with their own lives to give them the around clock care that nursing homes are able to provide.

In the article “15 resolution to reduce your dementia risk” it states “ Diabetes had been closely linked to Alzheimer's with some researchers even calling the disease a third type of diabetes. Manage sugar intake and blood sugar levels to keep your brain healthy (Saver)”. In other words, it is very important that the sugar intake should be cut down to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. Also, to protect a body it needs low inflammatory food (Smith). In the book “ How to prevent Alzheimers, your guide to prevent the Disease” it says “ The study found that eating fish that was not fried, but rather baked or broiled, helps to preserve brain neurons, making them stronger brain areas that are important for thinking and memory (Smith)”. Cutting back on fried food can prevent Alzheimer's because the body is not getting as much bad fat that is bad for the body. This will keep the body healthy and will help protect the body from diseases. Try to stick to a Mediterranean diet. This is the best kind of diet for the heart and the body cannot be healthy if the heart is not healthy (Adopt a). Try to cut down on going to restaurants as much as possible. A home cooked meal every few nights and cutting back on carbs could prevent Alzheimer's (Scott 10). It is also very important that greens and protein are heavy in the diet. Plants should be heavy in the diet. The brain benefits a lot from plants and protein (Scott 10). Having a high amount of protein and a low fat amount of dairy can benefit the brain as well (Scott 10). Having a lot of fruit is very good for the body. Eating high amounts of fruit is very good for the body and the brain (8 ways). Drinking a vegetable or a fruit juice is good and can support the immune system to prevent Alzheimer's (Saver). Drinking a glass of wine has been known for helping the Alzheimer's progression go slower. A glass of wine during

Important to realize there are little treatments for Alzheimer’s limited. According to alz.org some medication can be used to control the progression of the disease; Three common medications are “Memantine, topsoil, and garlanding”. These treatments help control but, do not cure the horrific, Alzheimer’s. Other treatments is mental exercise; like reading, brain teasers, puzzles, and math problems (mayoclinic.org). These exercises help” to keep the brain to engaged and active”(alzstore.com). As found on helpline.come other treatments met by

Be physically and socially active. Physical activity and social interaction might delay the onset of dementia and reduce its symptoms. Move more and aim for 150 minutes of exercise a week.

Mental disorders are becoming more prevalent in today's society as people add stress and pressure to their daily lives. The elderly population is not eliminated as a candidate for a disorder just because they may be retired. In fact, mental disorders affect 1 in 5 elderly people. One would think that with disorders being rather prevalent in this age group that there would be an abundance of treatment programs, but this is not the case. Because the diagnosis of an individual's mental state is subjective in nature, many troubled people go untreated regularly (summer 1998). Depression in the elderly population is a common occurrence, yet the diagnosis and treatment seem to slip

How we view aging has changed over the last few decades. Gone are the images of feeble individuals sitting in nursing home day rooms and in are the images of the hip old couples doing new age dances. A variety of personal and social concerns involving the elderly have evolved in recent years, and although the aging population is living longer more active lives, there are still a few important concerns. In a world that is changing everyday, keeping up is important if you don’t want to get left behind. In order to understand the sociological aspects of aging, we must answer a few questions: What types of care are available to the aging population? What is the Quality of life as we age? What is active aging and how does it affect us? How do with keep up societal changes as we age? In answering these questions, hopefully, a brighter side of aging can be seen.As people age, many changes can be witnessed occurring in the body. The fight to live while maintaining health and wellness gets harder. Humans are a complex class of organisms; all have different genetic makeups and come from a variety of backgrounds. Each individual is different, having been exposed to different environments and experiences. With this understanding, you can see why aging bodies and require increased, as well as, individualized care. This individual care is becoming increasingly more expensive and worry is mounting among legislators as to how it can be provided, maintained, and paid for in the future

Unfortunately many older adults lived on fixed incomes that do not cover the basic needs, let alone the cost of health care. This is of greater concern in some ethnic groups for the older adult. This double impact weighs heavy on the mind of the older adult, and this can contribute to the inability to process and understand health

As the life expectancy in the United States rises, the number of elderly in the population has also expanded. These increases have led to the oldest-old (people aged 90 and older) to become the fastest growing age group in the country. The oldest-old face many unique challenges because of their age, one of which is disability. Disability in the elderly has major impact upon society 1 and will continue will be a growing burden in years to come.