Using the Internet to Fight Depression and Misery
Living and aging with happiness certainly sounds like the right way to
approach life, but naturally, life can include difficulties that create
sadness or even depression. While it is normal to experience episodes
of negative emotions, it is important to recognize when ordinary
sadness becomes a more significant state of depression that needs
professional attention.
Seniors
have an increased chance for risk of developing some level of
depression. Changes as the result of aging, medical illnesses, and
genetics put the older adult at a greater risk for developing
depression. According to the Geriatric
Mental Health Foundation,
depression affects approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65
in the United States. The disorder affects 25–30 percent of people in
hospitals and nursing homes.
Social
Wellness Helps to Curb Depression
One
important sign of depression is when people withdraw from the social
activities in which they would normally participate. Signs of
withdrawal include neglecting personal appearance or cooking and eating
less, and expressions such as, "It's too much trouble," "I don't feel
well enough," or "I don't have the energy." Isolation for seniors is a
real concern and ultimately contributes to feelings of sadness, which
could lead to depression.
According to the Ohio
Department of Aging, “Social wellness involves the ability of
people to
successfully engage, interact, and maintain healthy, meaningful
relationships. It means feeling connected to, participating in, and
contributing to the welfare of the community.”
Social well-being is a crucial piece of a person’s health, especially a
senior’s health. Studies show that isolated people:
- Are more susceptible to
illness
- Have a death rate of two to
three times higher than those who are not socially isolated
- Have decreased ability to
deal with stress
- Are more vulnerable to safety
risks such as elder abuse and substance misuse
Therefore,
a person with a healthy social network has a better opportunity for
optimal emotional and social well-being, decreased chance for
depression, isolation, loneliness, poor heath, and decreased life
expectancy.
To expand a senior’s social network, the
senior can volunteer their time or their skills to a good cause, such
as to a library, with the arts, or they could offer to be a companion.
“Researchers have found that volunteering is associated with a decrease
in frailty. Volunteering connects seniors to like-minded people who are
working toward the same goals, while enabling a person to give back to
his or her community,” states Barbara Riley, Director of the Ohio
Department of Aging.
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Social
Networks for Mature Users
Source: www.seniorhome.net
These social networking websites are designed for individuals with more
life experience to share.
- eons.
A popular social network for Baby Boomers, eons offers plenty of
ways to connect with others as well as brain games, blogs, videos, and
photos.
- Rezoom.
With lots of articles on
music, activities, going green, money, and more, you will find plenty
to keep your mind busy. Also, find a friend, read blogs, or visit one
of the city-specific sites here.
- Multiply.
While not just for older users, this site does have a large number of
senior members. The features here include blogs, a social calendar,
movie and restaurant reviews, and photo sharing.
- Seniorocity.
Only for adults over 40, this network offers plenty of
ways to connect with others including blogs, chat rooms, groups, and
photo galleries.
- Boomertowne.
Create a
profile, then jump into the fun with discussion groups, movie reviews,
recipes, and more. Boomertowne also features a singles dating service.
- EldersVoice.
This site is a "social networking site for senior citizens
who are young at heart." Post photos, video chat, play games, or post
on your blog here.
- BoomerGirl.
Targeting Baby
Boomer women this site is part social network and part eZine (online
magazine). Sign up for one of the blogs and let your voice be heard.
- Eldr.
Participate in the forums or start blogging to connect with
others here. Don’t forget to take advantage of the great articles
ranging from travel to the environment to exercise.
- Secondprime.
For the 50+ set, this community includes the usual forums
and such as well as volunteer activities, a social calendar, and more.
- Growingbolder.
The concept here is to create an intergenerational
community around news that is inspiring, amusing, and uplifting.
- RedwoodAge. This
site has a definite social-change aspect to it with
topics such as the environment, poverty, and the state of health care
right along side articles about health, exercise, and travel. Visit the
Village to connect with others.
- Boomer-Living.com.
Join the Coffeehouse at this site to find their
social network where you can meet others, play trivia, and more.
- LifeTwo.
"Midlife improved" is how this site is described. Follow your
online buddies with a free membership here or just read the blogs and
articles available.
- My
Boomer Place. Create
a profile here and get started connecting with friends or making new
ones, sharing photos, writing and sharing articles, playing games, and
much more.
- Maple
and Leek. For those 50+,
this community is one of adventure and entrepreneurial spirit. Connect
with like-minded seniors at this fun site.
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How Technology is Improving
Social Wellness
A
study called “Internet Use and Depression Among the Elderly” done by
The Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal and Economic Public Policy
Studies found that Internet use led to about a 20 percent reduction in
depression by contributing positively to mental well-being and
facilitating interpersonal communication, thereby reducing loneliness.
The Center’s findings support policy change to help seniors gain access
to the Internet by making it more accessible, whether by developing
broadband infrastructure to remote locations and/or through the
placement of computers in senior living environments.
Intel-GE
has concentrated efforts on developing Internet usage opportunities for
seniors. Their subsidiary, Care Innovations Connect, looks to tackle
social isolation and wellness through telehealth. While much of the
telehealth industry is focused on devices for better home health, Intel
has a history of researching social need of seniors and creating
technology to enhance social well-being. GE’s Medtronic
Inc.’s
CEO explains, “We recognize that the conditions faced by home health
patients are not necessarily clinical. It is part of our core mission
to address social and support needs.” The fact that major
corporations, such as these, are devoting resources to this issue is
promising for seniors.
Seniors Can, and Do, Age with Happiness
After
countless experiments of studying “What makes people happy?” scientists
and statisticians have determined that four main factors which
influence a person’s happiness: gender, personality, external
circumstances, and age. 
Women tend to be happier than men
are. If you have a personality that is more neurotic, you are more
prone to guilt, anger, and anxiety. Therefore, happiness will be harder
to achieve than for those whose personality is more extroverted and who
like to engage with other people. As to be expected, external
circumstances, such as relationships, education, income, and health,
shape the way people feel.
When it comes to age, Andrew
Oswald, a professor at the Warwick Business School, and some of his
colleagues noticed a trend appearing in the data in the 1990s. This
trend showed that people across the globe are generally at their least
happy while in their late 40s early 50s, but get happier as they get
older. The theory behind this finding suggests the people
begin
to accept their position in life and are more comfortable with who they
have become.
How to Make Seniors Happy
If you have a
senior loved one or neighbor who could use some ”happy” in his or her
life, meaningfully engaging with that senior could make a world of
difference for his or her state of mind and overall health. Simple
gestures are a great start. Here are some suggestions:
-
Smile at them often
-
Help them carry something
-
Call just to see how they are doing
-
Cook them a nice meal, sit
and enjoy it with them
-
Do errands and chores for them
-
Teach them how to use a computer
-
Help them connect to the Internet so
they can communicate with friends and family
-
Listen to their stories – you’d be
amazed at what interesting lives seniors have had!
Source: Adapted from www.zenhabits.com
Whether
at a mild or serious level, depression creates concern for family
members and can cause serious health concerns for the individual. While
not everyone who experiences sadness can be labeled as depressed, the
warning signs are worth noting, and the senior’s physician should
become involved if the symptoms continue. Seniors may be reluctant to
tell someone if they are feeling sad for many reasons, so it is up to
the family members or caregivers to recognize when a senior’s behavior
has changed and may be of serious concern.
Untreated
depression can aggravate symptoms of other illnesses, lead to
disability or even premature death, or result in suicide. When it is
properly diagnosed and treated, more than 80 percent of those suffering
from depression recover and return to their normal lives (Geriatric
Mental Health Foundation).
Depression may be hard to
diagnose because it can closely resemble dementia in older adults. A
professional can perform neuropsychological testing to determine a
conclusive diagnosis.
This chart shows the similarities and
differences between depression and dementia. Differences are
highlighted with bold and italic font.
| Source: Society of Certified Senior Advisors textbook, Working with Seniors Health, Financial, and Social Issues, 2009. | |
Depression | Dementia | - Sleep disturbance
- Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
- Poor attention/concentration
- Loss of appetite/unexpected weight loss
- Agitation/retardation of movement
- Irritability
- Memory impairment
- Loss of energy
- Feelings of guilt or regret
- Thoughts of suicide
| - Sleep disturbance
- Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
- Poor attention/concentration
- Loss of appetite/unexpected weight loss
- Agitation/retardation of movement
- Irritability
- Memory impairment
- Difficulty organizing; losing things
- Language deficits
- Incontinence in later stages
| Late-Life Depression Symptoms
Source: Geriatric Mental Health Foundation, www.gmhfonline.org
- Persistent sadness (lasting two weeks or more)
- Feeling slowed down
- Excessive worries about finances and health problems
- Frequent tearfulness
- Feeling worthless or helpless
- Weight changes
- Pacing and fidgeting
- Difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Physical symptoms, such as pain or gastrointestinal problems.
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Types of Depression You Should Know About
(Source: WebMD.com)
The
two most common types of depression are (1) clinical depression, also
called major and (2) chronic depression, also called Dysthymia. Each
type has clear symptoms that define them.
-
Clinical or major depression. The National Institute of Mental Health
explains that the symptoms of this type of depression interfere with a
person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy activities he or
she once enjoyed. The symptoms present themselves daily or
for
most of the day for a period of at least two weeks. Depressed mood or
loss of interest accompanies the other symptoms. The symptoms cannot be
the result of substance abuse, a medical condition, or within two
months of the loss of a loved one.
-
Chronic depression or Dysthymia. This type of depression is less severe
than clinical depression. It is characterized by a depressed mood that
lasts for at least two years, but does not disable the person from
functioning in normal life. Symptoms for seniors who have Dysthymia
include difficulty caring for themselves, isolation, mental decline,
and medical issues. A person with this condition experiences feelings
of hopelessness, low self-esteem, low energy, decreased ability to
concentrate, has poor appetite or may over-eat, and may get too little
or too much sleep. Overall, a person will take on a discouraging view
of their lives, and problems seem more difficult to solve.
Depression is Treatable
It
is important to realize that depression is not a normal part of aging.
Most depressed people can improve dramatically from treatment. In fact,
there are highly effective treatments for depression in late life.
Common treatments prescribed by physicians include psychotherapy and
antidepressant medication. Altering lifestyle by increasing exercise,
changing diet, and increasing social interactions can also help to
improve a person’s feelings of sadness and help fight off depression.
While
depression is not a normal part of the aging process, seniors are
susceptible to depression. The sooner that signs of sadness and
loneliness are addressed by a caregiver, a family member or a
physician, the less chance that the senior’s emotional and physical
health will be negatively affected. Making the effort to get and keep a
senior on the right path toward living a fulfilling and happy life are
crucial if he or she is to age with happiness and avoid
depression.
Where to go for Help with Depression
If
a senior you know needs further assistance with their depression,
consult a physician or contact one of these organizations for more
information on dealing with depression.
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation
www.GMHFonline.org
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
www.aagponline.org
Mental Health America
www.nmha.org
American Geriatrics Society
www.americangeriatrics.org
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