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My dad keeps asking about my brother, and always imaging the worse, (my brother works in another city) and keeps complaining about how bad his life is, and sometimes he wishes death! He also refuses to get help thinking it won’t work. Are these a signs of depression? And can it be prevented?

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Yes indeed they are signs of depression. A weekly call from the brother would help. Getting him out of the house would help. The key is to keep him moving and redirect his attention to something he likes. Medications are a last resort. Go to the Caregiver Support tab above and click on Emotional Wellbeing.
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The time for prevention is gone. I think your dad is already depressed.

Many elderly people feel the way your dad does. They resent their illness or their decline. They resent needing help. And that resentment can turn into depression.

Take your dad to his Dr. and talk to the Dr. about this. He may put your dad on an anti-depressant and while you wait for several weeks for it to kick in get your dad out and about doing things if he is able.

However, a pill won't fix what's broken with your dad. It won't give him back his youth or his health but it may improve his mood.
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Thanks for replying, I didn’t want to go after medications he’s already on other meds! I do take him out for walks in the park, also to visit some relatives, he feels a lot better and he enjoy it but as soon he’s home he will return to his old being.
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As my mom's cognitive functioning declined, she started to worry about EVERTHING. No amount of calling or reassuring worked. Geriatric psych put her on zoloft and remeron. She worries now about real stuff.
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