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Feb 14, 2019

Combatting Geriatric Depression

What can we do to support and provide for elderly individuals suffering from depression? Do you think that elderly communities such as nursing homes are a means by which we can combat this epidemic?

5 comments

5 Comments

Hyunseo Kim

Feb 26, 2019

@sungwon0119 wrote her February periodical on hospice care and EOL care! Take a look:

https://www.connectinhealth.org/periodicals/against-the-stigmas-of-death-hospice-care

Hospice care can help improve life satisfaction at the end of one's life, and this may serve an effective system for combatting geriatric depression if implemented carefully.

sungwon0119

Mar 03, 2019

Replying to

Thanks for mentioning my periodical! As the life expectancy extends these days, the ways to improve the quality of remaining days of life have become important. Especially for the elderly suffering from mental illness like geriatric depression, hospice care would be a better choice for the following reasons. First, hospice care cost is almost all covered by Medicare and private insurance companies, and the financial problem is never a reason to send a patient away. Second, hospice care is not for curative treatment but for good death. As there is no medicine for depression yet and fear of dying would increase the anxiety which worsens depression in general, it is significant for us to make the elderly patients feel they still can control the days left. Hospice care helps the patients make the most out of their life as if they are healthy. It 100 percent reflects both the patients' bucket list and medical needs for happiness and health. Hospice care thus should be encouraged!!!

wefr1

Feb 25, 2019

Just as we've seen, one of the most effective tools to combating depression is media representation. Among younger generations, celebrities coming forward with their stories have helped many recognize what serious conditions they actually are. If older celebrities were to come forward with their stories, it would certainly help many of their older fans come to terms with any mental health issues they could be suffering from.

Furthermore, I think it's important to spark honest discussion within the elderly community. The younger generations of America have been for the most part entirely connected by technology, something of which older generations might not reap the benefit. By setting up meetings concerning mental health in communities with high concentrations of the elderly, awareness around these issues might be raised.

Sabahat Rahman

Feb 23, 2019

I totally agree! Adding on, I think that nursing homes and elderly homes can sometimes have unintended detrimental effects of the mental wellbeing of elderly people. For instance, I think that it is important to ensure that nursing/elderly homes are not isolated. Often, spending too much time in one area and surrounded by the same people can harm one's mental health. On the other hand, nursing homes can be a great way to connect elders with the general community by, for example, hosting community events. Connections and bonds are a great way to improve mental health!

Dasha Asienga

Feb 22, 2019

I think they key way is to be there and support the elderly in our lives. While elderly communities may enable the elderly to relate more with others facing similar problems, in my opinion, more than ever, the elderly need to be with their families and feel their love, especially as they feel that their lives are coming to an end. Definitely showing support and talking with them, getting to laugh with them, I believe, will be the key in helping the elderly enjoy they last days of their lives.