Ten Facts About Late Life Depression
1. Depression is common: 1 in 6 visits to a medical office relates to depression. 2. Clues that can suggest depression include pain, insomnia, worrying, frequent calls/visits to the doctors’ office or calls to family members. 3. Depression is frequently seen after cardiac bypass surgery, hip surgery, heart attack, stroke, or any long-term illness --- or in those who refuse medical care! 4. Clues to depression in nursing home residents include apathy, social withdrawal, weight loss, agitation, or prolonged physical rehabilitation 5. Late-life depression magnifies any existing medical or physical disability, pain or dependency. 6. Most late-life depression is treated by primary care physicians, not by mental health specialists. 7. Any illness with disabling symptoms-even arthritis- can provoke depression. 8. Suicide is 5 times more common in later life than at other ages. 9. Screening for depression works to identify those who need professional help. 10. Effective treatments for late-life depression are available.