(msn) As many as 90% of people suffering from depression in late life are not getting the care they need. The suicide rate in adults age 75 and older is a shocking 1½ times the average — higher than that of any other group, including teenagers. Elderly people receiving home care are twice as likely to suffer major depression as those in nursing homes. A whopping 78% of them receive no treatment at all. Patients diagnosed with major depression spend almost twice as much money on their health care as patients who don't have the disease. The emotional devastation of depressed seniors is particularly heartbreaking, for their suffering stands in stark contrast to the contentment and satisfaction enjoyed by the rest of their peers: Recent research shows that the happiest Americans are the oldest — their days typically filled with the joys of travel and recreation, grandchildren, introspection, and other well-earned pleasures. An elderly parent's mental illness wreaks havoc on other family members as well: Caldwell joined the millions of adult children, most of them women, who must grapple with their parent's torment and help them find relief from a condition that's as difficult to treat as it is to identify. But relief can be found: Caldwell managed to locate a psychiatrist who specialized in depression among the elderly; within weeks, her mother felt her spirits lift, thanks to the salubrious effects of an antidepressant. If you suspect that your parent needs help, you'll need to learn how to spot early but subtle cues, educate yourself about treatment options, and create a social support system for your parent — often from afar — to turn her life around. It's not a simple task, but it's eminently doable. Here's how. (view source to read full story)

Join BBN for free to post a comment. If you already have an account, please login here to post a comment. You will be returned to this page after logging in.