Home Health Nurses Help Identify Symptoms Of Depression In The Elderly
Depression is common among the elderly, but individuals show different symptoms of this illness. It's important for a home health nurse to identify an elderly patient's risk factors for depression and watch closely for symptoms of this physically and psychologically debilitating disorder.
Identifying Possible Signs of Depression
While extreme sadness and feelings of hopelessness can be signs of depression, older individuals who suffer major depression often complain of a lack of energy, irritability, memory loss, and physical aches and pains instead. Even when patients report these symptoms, the home health nurse is in a position to look for other common symptoms of depression in the elderly.
Difficulty Sleeping
Insomnia often is a symptom of depression, which is often treated with hypnotic drugs. However, some hypnotics, including a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, can cause memory loss in the elderly and increase the risk of falls. The drugs can also make certain breathing problems, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), worse by decreasing a patient's rate of breathing.
Doctors also sometimes prescribe antidepressants for their sedating effects. However, the sedating effects of certain antidepressant medications can cause an older person's blood pressure to drop suddenly when he or she stands up, increasing the risk of falls and bone fractures.
Since elderly individuals are more sensitive to medications in general, they usually require lower doses of either of these drugs to start. Although it may take longer for the medications to work in relieving sleep problems and depression, the home health nurse must closely monitor the patient's use of the drugs and watch for adverse reactions.
Weight Loss
Depression often is the cause of an elderly person's loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss. However, medical professionals must first rule out other possible medical causes. The home health nurse should report weight loss of more 5 percent of the individual's body weight that has occurred within the last six to 12 months to the individual's doctor.
Other health problems an elderly patient has can increase the risk of depression. These may include:
- Chronic pain
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm)
- Dementia
Additional factors that increase the risk of depression in the elderly:
- Previous history of recurrent major depressive disorder
- Family history of mood or depressive disorders
- Loss of a spouse, other family members, or friends
- Living alone
- Certain medications, including those to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and Parkinson's disease -- these can alter chemicals in the brain
- Dependency on alcohol to induce sleep and relieve pain
Elderly men and women who lack a network of social support, and older individuals who suffer stress caused by physical impairments and chronic health conditions related to aging also are at higher risk for depression.
Contact a professional in-home care agency, like First In Care Home Health Agency Inc, for more information on nurses helping to recognize to depression symptoms in your loved one.
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