Helping to Prevent Depression in Your Aging Parents

By Kevin Edwards | September 3, 2019 |

As someone ages, they are more likely to become depressed. They may be overwhelmed that they can’t do as much as they used to. Your aging parents might feel as if they don’t have as many friends as they used to. Some may have passed away. They may lose their spouse and other family members. This all could make them depressed. The good news is that there are some ways to prevent depression in your aging parents. While you may not be able to stop it altogether, these tips will hopefully give them the help they need.

Talk to Them Often

Home Care Overland Park KS - Helping to Prevent Depression in Your Aging Parents — Home Care Overland Park KS – Helping to Prevent Depression in Your Aging Parents

Your parent may be thinking about their loneliness. They may have lost their spouse or others in their life due to age or other health-related illnesses. Your parent may be feeling lonely. One of the best things you can do for them is to talk to them often. Let them know you are there for them for whatever they may need, even if that is to just talk.

Get Them to Keep Up with Activities

Many people, as they age, will stop taking part in activities they once enjoyed. This can cause them to start feeling depressed. They may feel like they aren’t in the best shape to keep up with those activities or maybe they are just feeling too tired. If you can get them to keep up with these activities or start new activities, this can help to prevent depression in your aging parents. There may be new hobbies they may enjoy, as well.

Keeping Them Connected

As your parents get older, they may no longer be able to drive. This may prevent them from seeing as many people as they used to. If you want to prevent depression in your aging parents, keep them connected. Drive them around to see their friends and other family members. Get them out of the house. Convince them to visit their neighbors.

Eat Healthy and Sleep Well

Two other things you can do to help prevent depression in your aging parents is to help them eat healthy and to sleep well. You can prepare them some healthy meals at least a couple of times per week. If they aren’t sleeping well, maybe you can have them speak with their doctor about what can be done to help them get better sleep.

Hire Home Care Help

When it comes to your senior’s care, to prevent depression in your aging parents, you may want to hire home care help. A home care worker can give your parents the companionship they need. The home care worker can help them with activities that may be tough for them, as well. This can help to prevent or reduce depression.

Is your parent aging and starting to feel down? The above-mentioned tips are just some of the ways you can help them to prevent depression.

Source: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2017/handouts-depression/older-age/en/

If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Care Services in the Overland Park KS area, please contact the caring staff at Elder Care of Kansas City, today. Proudly serving Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass Counties in Missouri as well as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas for over 30 years. Call us at 816-333-3322.

Author
Recent Posts

Kevin Edwards

Owner at Elder Care of Kansas City

Kevin’s life and the lives of his immediate family have been impacted by caregivers – either as a patient or a caregiver - for as long as he can remember.He watched his mother take care of his grandmother until her death at the age of 97.Five years later, his father passed from a neurological disorder that was subsequently confirmed as Lewy Body Dementia.In 2007, his wife, Lori, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.The symptoms of Lori’s disease required Kevin to hire a caregiver during the periods of her relapses.

Prior to purchasing Elder Care, Kevin spent over 20 years in the health insurance industry.In his most recent position, he was in a financial operations role with Humana where he worked with doctors, nurses and other health professionals developing programs to keep Humana members healthy.Their focus on primary care and medication adherence improved the lives of thousands of seniors in Kansas City and the surrounding area.

Kevin and his wife, Lori, have three children.Kevin has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.