Depresia la vârsta înaintată. Factori de risc și mituri.

The number of older people suffering from depression is growing rapidly. In many cases, depressive symptoms are confused with signs of aging. Do you know the risk factors for depression in older adults? It is estimated that by the year 2025, there will be approximately 1.2 billion elderly people in the world, with this number growing exponentially. Additionally, experts warn that approximately by the year 2040, the number of older adults will surpass that of younger people. Therefore, the need to increase attention to the elderly in their diverse and varied facets becomes increasingly important. Not only because of the high number of older adults, but also because they can enjoy a good quality of life, feeling attended to and listened to by the community. In order to advance in this field, it is necessary to recognize and work in gerontology, given that it is the science that studies old age and related phenomena, and can be done from an interdisciplinary approach, that is, working from different fields of health (medicine, psychology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work…). It has been found that one of the most common conditions in this stage of life is depression. It is important to note that, like any other moment in life (childhood, adolescence, youth, adulthood), it is a disease. Often, this sadness, low self-esteem, lack of motivation, hopelessness… are confused with a „normal” state of aging, which makes diagnosis and therefore treatment difficult. Older adults suffering from depression may experience higher rates of insomnia and suicidal ideation, as well as more pronounced memory loss. In addition, reaction times tend to be longer. The prevalence rate of depression in adults is higher than in older people; however, the consequences are more serious in the latter due to physical illness, suicide risk, lack of functional capacity, etc. Depression is often associated with reduced physical functioning. It has been found that in many cases, reducing depression increases physical function. Comorbidity between depression and anxiety is common in older people. If both disorders are diagnosed, it is essential to treat depression first due to the risk of suicide, as it has been found that over 80% of older people who commit suicide suffer from depression. Psychosocial risk factors for depression include: isolation, loss of autonomy and independence, suffering from other physical illnesses or dementia, economic problems, psychological violence, loss of roles, grief, moving, children leaving the family home, cognitive changes, the need to be listened to, conflict in family dynamics, retirement, chronic pain, fear of death, and having different caregivers. As you can see, there are multiple and varied factors that influence the onset of depression in older adults. It is essential to communicate with the elderly person we are concerned about and provide them with space and time to express themselves. Myths about aging related to depression often condition society, professionals, and even patients. Therefore, it is important to address and debunk these myths in order to reduce patient distress. It is common to be depressed when you are old. Normalizing depression in older people is commonplace, however, despite the suffering that a person may have experienced throughout different stages of life, it is not something normal, so it is completely necessary to address the illness. It is too late for changes to occur. Thinking that older adults cannot change…