Holiday Blues

Older folk can be at particular risk of developing depression over the holidays. Shorter days, colder weather, and other problems (snow, ice) make the winter solstice a difficult time. Add the holidays to this, and some elderly people will just seem to retire into a depressed state.

Older people are liable to late-life depression – as many as one in seven can experience it. So you should keep an eye out for possible candidates when you visit for the holidays. Look for the signs – they may be anxious or irritable, less joyful, withdrawn, and focused on talking about people who’ve died. They’ll show little interest in the holiday festivities and traditions. Of course, the death of a spouse or close friend will make things worse. The victims will probably resist the notion that they have a condition called ‘depression’. They come from a generation that was raised on the ‘pull yourself together’ principle.

It’s important to recognize such people, as depression at this age is eminently treatable. While waiting for the appointment with a physician, they can be led to some practical steps: reduce or avoid alcohol, take exercise, and only participate in things they really want to.

The newer antidepressants are often very suitable for older patients - they just have to be taken in smaller doses, at least to begin with. The final dose level may be the same as those taken by younger folk, so one should ‘start low, go slow, but don’t stop’ until the desired response is achieved.

There’s an online test for depression for those who are worried about it, and plenty of additional information on depression in the elderly.