Understanding is First Step in Breaking the Aging Senior’s Blues

Here’s some information that many families don’t know but should know about their aging loved one’s happiness and sense of well-being. If you’ve wondered about Aunt Mary’s blue mood and how to help her feel better, please be aware that the following conditions may actually bring on feelings of depression:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disorder
• Lupus
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
• Vitamin B 12 deficiency

Wow. If your loved one suffers from any of those conditions, and many seniors do, you might have just now discovered at least a portion of the problems with her moods.

Before you think the subject is all wrapped up, however, please consider that nearly all medications have side effects. Some side effects are much more serious than others, of course. But be aware that medications used to treat certain conditions can also result in depression. Study the following list of medications and then take a moment to compare this list to what’s in your loved one’s medicine cabinet:

• Blood pressure medicine
• Beta-blockers
• Sleeping pills
• Tranquilizers
• Calcium-channel blockers
• Medication for Parkinson’s disease
• Over-the-counter medication for ulcers, such as Tagamet and Prilosec
• Heart drugs that contain reserpine
• Steroids
• Drugs to treat high cholesterol
• Pain killers and other medications to treat arthritis
• Estrogen

If you’re feeling fairly stunned by this long list, contact your loved one’s family doctor to discuss these issues. The doctors may have suggestions in regard to how best to help your senior loved once again find some joy in her life.

The other way to help your aging loved ones cope with changes and blue moods is to provide regular contact. That’s not always easy with your own family and a job, so that’s where Keeping in Touch Solutions can help. Our Care Callers are not replacing the calls you want to make to talk to your mom or grandfather, no, our calls are designed to provide a daily check in while you are meeting the demands of your job during the day or getting your children to band practice and baseball games.

A daily check-in call could be the lifeline, the joy you give someone that makes the biggest difference in their perception of what old age is like.

Contact me at 317-480-1038 today. Let’s make a difference together.

I’m Diana Beam, Founder of Keeping in Touch Solutions. It is my heartfelt desire for every person to live a happy and healthy life in the place they call home, no matter what their age. You can’t put a price on peace of mind for your parents and yourself. It’s priceless . . . and significant.

For that reason, the goal of every Keeping In Touch Solutions program is to provide a caring connection and service that both the elderly and their caregivers can rely on to make living that good life easier.