Does Your Elderly Loved One Seem Miles Away, Withdrawn, or Showing Signs of Depression?
Depression Isn’t ‘Normal’ for Those Who Require Senior Care near Cascade, MI
Graham wasn’t the type of guy who relied on too many people for things through the years. He didn’t count on friends, never asked neighbors to help him do certain things, nor did he call on family when something was causing him trouble; he took care of things on his own.
When his health began to decline, when he started having trouble taking care of his house and other issues arose, the people around him offered to help. Yet he seemed to withdraw even further from those closest to him. His adult children, two of whom lived a short distance away, passed it off as him being a “little depressed.” To them it was no big deal. Things didn’t improve much even when they finally convinced him to hire senior care.
Over the first weeks when he was relying on senior care services, he continued to seem morose, withdrawn, and detached. The senior care provider encouraged his family to reach out to him, to spend some time talking to him, but they just continued to say it was ‘normal’ for him to be like this.
In truth, far too many people assume that depression (at least to some degree) is ‘normal’ for elderly individuals to experience. They are facing mounting health problems, physical limitations, and may be thinking back on their life and missed opportunities. They will also be facing their own mortality much more significantly now. These are all seemingly legitimate reasons for anyone to feel a little down about things in their life, but depression should never be considered ‘normal’ for any reason.
Why depression is not ‘normal.’
Depression could be the result of any number of mental, emotional, or physical changes. It could also be the result (a side effect) of certain medications the elderly individual is taking. Assuming that a person is depressed and that it’s okay or normal is akin to turning one’s back on their situation, the challenges they face, and even though it may be exceedingly difficult to reach someone while they are in a depression, ignoring the situation can often make it worse.
For Graham, the senior care provider continued to reach out to him, to talk and listen to things he said (which wasn’t much) but not getting the support of his family to connect with him made things more challenging.
If depression is left alone, it can lead to something deeper and that can make getting out of it even more challenging. Depression among those who rely on senior care should be addressed and when you encourage them to try new activities, to spend time with friends and family, and to see the positives in life, eventually it can help. If it doesn’t, encouraging them to consult their doctor may be the next best step to take.
If you or someone you know needs help with senior care near Cascade MI, contact the caregivers at Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care for many disabled and elderly loved ones in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
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