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What are the treatments for depression in seniors?

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Q: What are the treatments for depression in elderly seniors?

A: Older medications for depression also work very well for some people. Often, a combination of talk therapy and medication is a good solution to the problem, with a 80% success rate in older adults.

Dr. Mikol Davis is a psychologist specializing in aging issues. He is the author of "Rainbows of Life" and founder of the Aging Parents website. Read his full biography

 
 

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SecretSister

Give a Hug

Aug 4, 2009

My Dad battles anger and aggression. He has an Alzheimer's diagnosis, of the Lewy Body variety. He began having trouble with anger at home, threatening to hit his wife and slamming drawers (when stuck). There were always anger issues in the home, with door slamming, but he was having catastrophic reactions, and his anger began escalating, along with other innappropriate behavior. He was taken to ER a couple times for his outbursts, then transferred to a Geriatric Psychiatric Unit at a separate hospital, to get this problem under control. From there, Dad was sent to a Nursing Home. He has been in this setting for a little over a year. Due to his innappropriate behaviors, and general decline due to Alzheimer's, he will remain institutionalized. The Nursing Home staff is doing everything they can to help, such as redirecting, changing rooms and roommates, etc., but nothing seems to help. He has seen a Psychiatrist several times, and often works with a Social Worker and the facility's Activity Department. He is on several medications for depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's, and etc., of which can be rather sedating. This doesn't seem like a very good quality of life for an elder (he's only 76 years of age). Are they missing something? Is there any hope for Dad? We feel so helpless, at times.

 
 

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