Depression Among the Elderly

Oct 29
10:12

2015

Andrew Peter

Andrew Peter

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Depression is one of the leading mental disorders that can completely take over your life. Our depression rehab center in Florida is committed to ascertain your recovery by connecting you with the best depression centers in Florida for the best treatment plans.

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Depression is more than just feeling sad or going through a rough patch. It's a serious mental health condition that requires understanding,Depression Among the Elderly Articles treatment and a good recovery plan. If depression is left untreated, it can have devastating mental, physical and social consequences.

Depression in elderly people often goes untreated because many people assume being quiet, low or tired is a normal part of aging and a natural reaction to chronic illness, loss and social transition.

However, depression symptoms in older people may differ from those found in younger people. Depression in seniors can essentially be characterized by issues in memory, vague complaints of pain and delusional behavior. Depression can also be a side effect of some medications commonly prescribed to older persons, such as medications used to treat hypertension, and conditions such as heart attack, stroke, hip fracture or macular degeneration. Symptoms of clinical depression can be triggered by other chronic illnesses common in later life, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, cancer and arthritis.

Florida is home to more than 19 million people. Of these, more than 6.9 million (36.9 percent) are over the age of 50. Nearly 4.4 million (23.4 percent) are over 60, more than 2.3 million (12.2 percent) are over 70 and more than 916,000 (4.9 percent) are over 80.

The proportion of Florida's population that is 60 and older is also growing more rapidly than other components of the population. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 32.5 percent of Florida's population will be 60 and older by the year 2030, an increase of 34 percent from 2012.

Further statistics demonstrated that more than 3.3 percent of the people served by the Florida mental health system were aged 65 and older. This represents a total of approximately 9,850 people.

Overall, 12.1 percent of Floridians aged 50 and older reported frequent mental distress (FMD): 13.9 percent of women and 9.8 percent of men.

Older Americans who experienced FMD were also more likely to report their physical health being poor or fair as opposed to being good. Even though 18 percent of older Americans with no mental distress reported poor or fair physical health, nearly 60 percent, which is almost triple the rate, of those with FMD reported poor/fair health characterized by serious health issues.

The Florida Depression Helpline is available at your service 24/7. Rehab centers in Florida cater to patients of all ages, prioritizing the welfare of each and every one. Our representatives will help connect you with the best rehab facilities in Florida that offer cutting edge treatment plans, designed to specifically serve individualized needs. If you or a loved one is struggling, call us right away.