I suspect my grandfather suffers from depression, but in many ways his Indian upbringing has prevented him from getting the help he needs. He grew up in a war zone which definitely is not good for anyone. He has never liked the idea of others caring for him in any way. His independence is the most important thing.

Look cultural views or even simple statistics on geriatric depression in South Korea, I found very few sources providing information on this topic. This lack of resources online demonstrates the lack of attention and awareness surrounding geriatric depression in Korea, or in East Asia in general. There are very few studies that have been done to examine the state of geriatric depression in Korea, and there are very few studies that have been done to examine the state of geriatric depression in East Asia overall. Simply put, people are not interested in this issue. As @mlee20 mentioned, it may be the case that because of the high societal respect and treatment that elders receive in eastern Asian countries, geriatric depression is not as commonly talked about or not commonly existent. However, there is a need for more research on this topic to ensure that the health needs of all populations are met.

In the U.S., it's becoming increasingly accepted to put elderly people in retirement homes when they suffer from unmanageable mental illnesses (just like for physical illnesses). Speaking to many of my friends from East Asia, however, I understand that there tends to be a stigma against putting elderly family members in either retirement homes or hospices. Because elders, in some households, are seen as the most respected members of the family, I can understand why it would be horrifying to "send them away" to be taken care of by strangers. In the U.S., however, retirement homes/hospices are seen as a normal option for families who don't have the time or means to take care of the elderly members of the family. Although I don't know where I stand on the issue, I can see both sides of the argument -- hopefully I figure out my stance before I grow old myself!

In my culture, broadly, that is, African culture, elders are prized and treated with utmost respect. Children work hard just so they could give back to the older community by caring for them. It is also widely believed that disrespect to the elderly, especially one’s own parent/ grandparent, could potentially lead into a life filled with misery. For such reasons, the elderly tend to be held as wise, knowledgeable and should be respected. Because of this, depression in the elderly is rarely ever heard of, except , perhaps, because of fear of approaching death or reminiscing the youth days passed, and even then, it’s rarely ever chronic. Of course, other mental issues such as schizophrenia, are more common among them, but depression is a topic that is rarely spoken about when it comes to the elderly.