Presented By:
Cheryl Stover & Jordana Naftzinger

Feeling a little let down after the highs of the holiday season?

As the tumult of family gatherings, the party circuit and New Year’s frivolity winds down, some among us feel the empti¬ness of ordinary day- to-day life. That simply may be a normal reaction to change—a little bit of the blues, says Adam Kaplin, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. But, he cautions, sometimes the sadness may be more pervasive. It could actually be a clinical depression—the far more serious brother of the blues that shouldn’t be ignored. “Depression is the second leading cause of chronic disability in the U.S.,” Kaplin says. “Left untreated, it can rob people of physical health, their jobs, their relationships, their lives. But it is also very treatable. That’s why it’s so important that we not ignore symptoms, especially in the elderly.”

While nearly 8 percent of people age 50 or older
suffer from clinical depression, it is more likely to be overlooked
and undiagnosed in seniors.

Older men and women and their loved ones often believe depression is just a rite of passage in growing older. With age often comes chronic illness, loss of physical energy or mental alertness, perhaps serious medical problems. So isn’t feeling low expected if not inevitable? Kaplin emphatically says, “Absolutely not.”

“It isn’t a normal reaction to feel depressed over a long period of time,” Kaplin adds. In the wake of a difficult medical diagnosis, separation from family, or the death of a spouse, feelings of sadness are normal. Yet, most people adapt overtime. But, Kaplin cautions, “When these feelings linger and become more pronounced the person may be suffering a clinical depression.”

How do you know for sure?

As with any medical illness, only a care provider with the appropriate experience can provide a definitive diagnosis. “But there are two important screening questions to ask yourself that can help,” says Kaplin. “Have you or your loved one been feeling sad or down in the dumps for more than one month, and have you or your loved one lost interest in doing things that once brought pleasure? These simple questions are an amazingly sensitive way to screen for depression. Nearly everyone with depression will endorse one or both of these questions and half of people who answer ‘yes’ to either will be diagnosed with depression.”

If you’re concerned about your spouse or a parent, Kaplin advises you to ask yourself another simple question: Is this the person I married or have known all my life? Radical changes in personality may signal a serious depression.

To make a diagnosis, a physician will delve deeper and ask about a cluster of symptoms including decrease in self esteem, feelings of being a burden to family, thoughts of suicide, and any impairments in sleep, appetite and weight. The good news? Kaplin says, “Depression is a short term problem that can be treated with a very good chance for 100 percent remission when you seek appropriate help.”

If you or your family member isn’t clinically depressed, but just feeling “down in the mouth,” Kaplin says, “the best way to help yourself is to maintain a normal routine.”

Kaplin offers these additional simple steps to return the rosy bloom to your cheeks:

Make sure you get enough sleep-eight hours is recommended.

Participate in some type of physical exercise- it’s a boost for your body and mind.

Eat healthy foods- watch your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates that can cause a crash in blood sugar accompanied by mood changes such as sadness, irritability and anxiety.

Avoid self medication with alcohol- it’s a depressant. Remember, everything in moderation.

Involve yourself in social activities- Resist the urge to say “no thank you” to invitations. Social isolation will only increase feelings of sadness.

Try “one plan for the day.”- Break down a larger problem into smaller bits and tackle these one at a time.

Don’t overwhelm yourself- Have you set some ambitious resolutions for 2010? Don’t frustrate yourself by trying to complete the job in the first few months of the New Year. Break these down into doable pieces as well, and engage the help of a friend or a coach to help you meet your goals.

Heritage at Milford Assisted Living
Genesis HealthCare.
Presented by Heritage of Milford Assisted Living, Genesis Health Care.

For more information on Heritage at Milford call 302-422-8700 or Heritage at Dover call 302-735-8800
visit www.genesishcc.com
© 2010 Genesis HealthCare Corporation.

Heritage Assisted Living cares for the members in their community and strives to encourage the independence of seniors, but also encourage them to partake in daily activities. They are dedicated to meeting the needs of their seniors. Their mission is to improve the life of each and every single member that is within their community by delivering excellent healthcare and the compassion of their staff. Heritage’s educated and well-trained nurses have become the core of the community. Through dedication and passion, Heritage will continue to improve the daily lives of their senior citizens.

Both Heritage communities are Genesis HealthCare facilities, one of the nation’s largest long-term care and rehabilitation therapy providers. Genesis Health Care employs over 36,000 people, each one dedicated to the delivery of quality health care to the residents and patients of their centers.

More than 200 skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities are located in 13 eastern states, with healthcare providers in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Genesis Healthcare is headquartered in downtown Kennett Square, Pennsylvania – a historic borough located southwest of Philadelphia and about 20 minutes northwest of Wilmington, Delaware.