At Least 9 Things to Understand About Depression in Seniors

By Pam Stone , BSW, Certified Case Manager (CCM) | June 13, 2025 |

As we age and life inevitably changes, we can become depressed. This is a brief overview of depression in seniors and suggestions for the individual and for family and friends on ways to deal with this.

What is Depression?
Depression, often referred to as Major Depressive Disorder, which differs from sadness, is a serious condition that often is treated with medication, counseling or/other more recent treatments. Symptoms last at least two weeks and interfere with one’s ability to perform daily tasks. A less debilitating condition is Persistent Depressive Disorder (dysthymia) – a long-lasting depressed mood. Although a difficult condition, the person is often able to continue to perform daily tasks. Both conditions should be discussed with one’s doctor. This becomes even more urgent if one is thinking about harming themselves or is becoming more isolated.

For immediate help call the 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). For TTY, dial 711 then 988 or use your preferred relay service.

Situations That Can Lead to Depression
With aging, most of us will experience life changing loss, in one or more ways. Some examples:

Deaths of Family Members and Friends
These are long-time relationships with many wonderful memories. Loss of a spouse can be particularly difficult. Loss of an adult child may be even more stressful. Outliving one’s child is not the “normal” timeline of events. Likewise, for many, close friends have become our families.

Health Changes in Ourselves or Loved Ones
Most of us intellectually understand that our bodies will change as we age. However, the reality of these changes can often be more difficult than imagined. The pain can be constant and limit activities that were once taken for granted. Our joints can cause severe and often debilitating pain. Our energy can decrease with age. Vision changes and even vision loss are often a part of aging, which can literally be life changing. Hearing loss is often another hard to accept loss. It can also be emotionally painful to
experience health challenges in our family members and friends.

Loneliness
Most of us live with others throughout most of our lives. Living alone as our lives change can often have some advantages but for many this can be a very difficult and isolating experience. It may also result in dwelling on how “good” things were and what has been lost. It can be very helpful if adult children in particular can find ways to include their parent in family activities; helping them stay in touch with friends and, very importantly, spending time listening to them. Everyone needs to feel valued and all of us can try to be aware of helping, not only family members but all people, feel valued.

Lack of Independence
Physical challenges can often limit our independence. Another major life altering change can be the loss of a driver’s license. As most people age they adjust how far and when they feel safe driving or often decide on their own to stop driving. Family or friends can ease this loss by accommodating their continued needs for transportation or finding acceptable alternatives.

However, some seniors are in denial. It is very important that family or even friends intervene if driving becomes a danger to the person or other drivers. If the person is defensive about giving up driving, it may be necessary to discuss this with their doctor, the DMV or even the police.

Fear of the Future
We all know on some level that we will eventually experience loss or illness and all of us know that we will experience death. When we are young and/or healthy it easy to “think about this tomorrow” to paraphrase Scarlett O’Hara. These become more of a reality as we age. Being able to talk with others – family, friends, doctors and clergy – about our fears can be crucial in avoiding the depression that can result.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Both may have been long time issues or problems in later life that seemingly “help” one deal with problems, but of course offer only false hope.

Practical Ways Family or Friends Can Help:

Stay connected to the ones you love and care about
Listen to them – without rushing the conversation and assuming you have all the answers to their problems.
Let them reminisce about the past. This can be important information that you may treasure in years to come.
Accompany them to doctor appointments while allowing (and encouraging if necessary) the doctor to speak and listen to them directly. Speak up at appropriate times if something is omitted that the doctor should know about the senior’s health or ask appropriate questions of the doctor to clarify what he or she is saying. The same advice would be good for other appointments – such as attorneys when planning one’s will and/or trust. This is also helpful when they meet with clergy/funeral homes when making funeral arrangements.
• Listen intently and speak to clarify rather than when just trying to give advice. You may have their best interests in mind but if your loved one does not feel you are listening they may not be open to your suggestions, however valid they are.
• If memory loss has become a concern it can be even more important to listen and give advice in a very non-threatening way. If their reality is becoming distorted, do not argue with them. If their doctor is not aware of these changes an appointment should be made. It could be an indication of some form of dementia, or it could be a treatable medical condition (such as a UTI or a sleep
disorder).
• When a new prescription drug is received it can be very helpful to read all the instructions that come with the prescription. This can offer valuable information regarding dosing, side effects and drug interactions.
• It is important that the senior has a Power of Attorney for Health (and hopefully another for Finances) or at least has listed you with the doctor’s office as someone with whom they can share information.

Click here for the Crisis and Suicide Hotline