Senior Citizens

Northfield Senior Center
“Our Mission: To encourage area seniors to pursue active, meaningful, and healthy lives; to invite seniors to share their talents and interest; and to offer services, information, and social, intellectual and wellness opportunities.”

I’m 35 years old, and am going to write a bit about depression among senior citizens. Many people don’t realize how high the depression rate is among senior citizens. I’ll list some reasons for the cause, then link to a professional article that has more information.

• Senior citizens have to deal with more personal loss than younger folks. As the years pass, seniors have to deal with losses of parents, siblings, and peers.
• Senior citizens also are dealing with loss of independence, mobility, financial freedom
• Senior citizens have to deal with more physical problems, chronic pain, and surgical recoveries as they become older

So if you are in the mood to feel empathy, picture how you’d feel if 80% of your friends and family died over the next five years. Imagine that you have 50% less mobility due to physical problems; imagine how you’d feel if you lost your ability to freely and independently earn money and that you have much reliance on government assistance and private organizations to help with bills, food, and living costs; imagine that instead of your visiting your family, you can only see them when they visit you; imagine that your health, mobility, and financial situation will not likely improve, and that the only money currently in your savings account is all the money you have to spend and you’ll get no more.

I’m speaking generally, of course. I have a neighbor who is almost 80, and has a car, is able to drive it, and get her own groceries. My grandmother is also able to do those things.

Senior citizens have paid taxes, defended this country, contributed to society and their community, and have built this nation. Many are still doing most of these things.

Just be aware, is all I’m saying.

Here’s a link I found from the American National Institute of Health. I’ll add more if anybody suggests them.
Don’t Accept the Blues: Depression in the Elderly Is Treatable – By Carla Garnett

Lately, Jim has noticed his 73-year-old mother is not herself. She isn’t sleeping through the night, and is often irritable during the day. She doesn’t want to play her weekly bridge game. In fact, she hardly seems interested in any of her usual routine. Her temper is short.