How Home Care Providers Help Seniors Combat Depression
How Home Care Providers From Visiting Angels Can Help Seniors Combat Depression Summary:
- With meaningful companionship and support from our professional home care providers, seniors in Littleton, Englewood, Centennial, Parker and surrounding areas in Colorado can have an easier time managing symptoms of depression.
- Although depression is not a normal part of aging, it affects many seniors in Littleton and surrounding communities.
- Recognizing depression symptoms in seniors and taking steps to improve mental health can vastly improve seniors' overall well-being.
- At Visiting Angels Littleton, our home care providers can help by providing attentive in-home elderly care and friendly companionship.
- If your senior loved one needs help, home care providers from Visiting Angels Littleton can assist with meal planning and preparation, running errands, light housekeeping, dressing for the day and providing companionship.
- With Visiting Angels Littleton, seniors can maintain their independence and age in place while preserving social ties-which can improve their mental health and reduces depression.
With meaningful companionship and support from our professional home care providers, seniors in Littleton, Englewood, Centennial, Parker and surrounding areas in Colorado can have an easier time managing symptoms of depression.
Although depression is not a normal part of aging, it affects many seniors in Littleton and surrounding communities. Untreated depression can make it more difficult to recover from an illness or injury. It can also have a negative effect on quality of life, affecting everything from appetite to socialization to physical activity.
Recognizing depression symptoms in seniors and taking steps to improve mental health can vastly improve seniors’ overall well-being. At Visiting Angels Littleton, our home care providers can help by providing attentive in-home elderly care and friendly companionship.
What Are Signs of Depression in Seniors?
Depression is not always obvious in seniors. Some individuals may experience sadness, while others do not. Instead, they may feel more helpless or hopeless. They might also feel like they're a burden to their family.
Here are several common symptoms to be aware of:
- Memory problems
- Changes in appetite
- Poor personal hygiene
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Loss of energy or motivation
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed, like hobbies
- Complaints about aches and pains unrelated to another condition
If you start to notice these symptoms, discuss your concerns with your loved one and their doctor. They should be evaluated for depression and receive appropriate medical treatment. Be sure to disclose any current medications because depression can be a side effect of some prescribed drugs.
Lifestyle Changes to Tackle Depression
Behavioral adjustments can assist your senior loved one in improving their mood and lowering their risk of depression.
Reduce isolation. Many older adults live alone and may have difficulty getting to and from social events. They may also have a limited number of visitors. Ensure that your loved ones have access to social opportunities and transportation to get there. Help them plan lunches with friends, church trips, community events and visits with family and friends. Remind them how they enjoy spending time with others.
Encourage physical activity. Exercise improves mood by releasing endorphins. Encourage your loved one to sign up for fitness classes, go for walks together at Aspen Grove, take them to the pool or try yoga classes. Staying active is also good for our joints, muscles, balance and coordination—all essential for mobility.
Present new activities. Trying new hobbies keeps the mind active and challenges seniors to learn new things. The satisfaction of doing something fun and seeing improvement can be extremely rewarding. They may even make new friends with similar interests.
Consider hiring professional home care providers. Depression can arise from illness, injury or disability. If your senior loved one needs help, home care providers from Visiting Angels Littleton can assist with meal planning and preparation, running errands, light housekeeping, dressing for the day and providing companionship. With Visiting Angels Littleton, seniors can maintain their independence and age in place while preserving social ties—which can improve their mental health and reduces depression.
To learn how home care providers from Visiting Angels Littleton can help your loved one manage symptoms of depression while living out their golden years at home, call us at 720-981-0804 to schedule a free in-home consultation.