Understanding Depression

• A mood disorder that causes symptoms such as low energy, prolonged sadness or irritability, and lack of interest in daily activities.
• A psychiatric disorder characterized by symptoms that are severe and last more than two weeks.
• A medical condition, just like diabetes or heart disease. It is not a character flaw or weakness.

• Chemical imbalance in the brain
• Lack of social support
• Loneliness or not spending enough time with others
• Physical illness
• Alcohol/drug abuse
• Some medications
• No exercise
• Stressful life events
• Death of a spouse, partner, friends, siblings, etc.
• Medical or physical problems
• Retirement/Changes in role
• Financial concerns
• Moving into a new building, community, or different region of the country, particularly if they have left family or friends behind.
  Immigrating from another country, particularly when the person doesn’t assimilate and learn English.

• Depression is a debilitating disease, but it can be treated.
• Older adults with depression are more likely to commit suicide than younger people with depression.
• Caregiving for a depressed individual can be particularly taxing since people with depression are unlikely to do things that you feel will make him/her feel better. It is not that the depressed person does not want to get well; rather, he or she is unable to self-motivate.
• The risk of depression in the elderly increases with other illnesses and when ability to function becomes limited.
  
• The prevalence of depression is estimated to be 13.5% among those who require home healthcare.
  
• Although they comprise only 12% of the U.S. population, people age 65 and older accounted for 16% of suicide deaths in 2004.
  
• Up to 75% of older adults who die by suicide visited a physician within a month before death.
  

Source: Older Adults: Depression and Suicide Facts, NIH Publication No. 4593. (April, 2007). National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/elderlydepsuicide.cfm (Original sources for these statistics are provided on this NIH fact sheet.)