Depression Awareness Week Benefits the Elderly

Published 28 April 2012.

Depression Awareness Week is an annual event organised by the Depression Alliance and is aimed at raising awareness and funds for the charity, as well as seeking to end the stigma associated with depression.

Depression is a common illness which is understood to affect one in five people during their lifetime. It can involve feelings of sadness, hopelessness, tiredness, low self-esteem, sleeping problems and even physical aches and pains. Elderly people are particularly at risk of suffering from the condition with many experiencing psychological or emotional distress associated with factors linked to old age such as isolation, loss of independence, loneliness and losses of varying kinds, such as bereavement. As a result, according to the Mental Health Foundation, depression now affects one in five elderly people living in the community and two in five living in care homes.

Receiving support at home can provide for a much higher quality of life for elderly people and help lower the risk of individuals and families having to experience depression. This can be achieved through a care provider working closely with a Client’s GP, family and friends and ensuring that mental condition remains a key part of the care planning and monitoring process. Depression can often occur alongside other mental illnesses, such as dementia, and therefore awareness and the ability to seek help as early as possible are both vital.

Carefound is a provider of specialist home care services to elderly people in North Yorkshire, enabling clients to continue to live independently in the comfort of their own home whilst maintaining the highest quality of life achievable. Services provided include basic help in the home, companionship, personal care, medication help, post-operative rehabilitation, respite care and specialist help such as dementia care and palliative care. The flexible service ranges from 1 hour to 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, including bank holidays, and can also encompass 24-hour live-in care services. Carefound is based in Harrogate and helps clients in surrounding towns and villages including (but not limited to) Wetherby, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Ripon, Thirsk, Pannal, Bedale, Pateley Bridge, Nidderdale and Masham. For more information please telephone 01423 774070 or visit www.carefound.co.uk.

Source: Depression Alliance, Mental Health Foundation, Carefound.