Assisted Living Community Life Helps Seniors with Clinical Depression
Depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders are on the rise in America. In fact, cases of these conditions have increased by an estimated 25 percent just over the last couple of years. That trend is expected to continue in the years to come.
Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to mental illnesses, including clinical depression, or major depressive disorder as it’s also known. If you have an aging loved one who may be at risk for depression, an assisted living community may be the solution he or she needs to keep its effects at bay. Consider the following points as you contemplate the benefits of assisted living for your loved one.
Protecting Your Loved One’s Mental Health
More than two million seniors in the United States are reported to be living with depression right now. Keep in mind, those are only the cases that have been documented. Millions more may be suffering from this condition, but the warning signs have gone unnoticed.
Many senior citizens live alone and are isolated from the rest of the world. Without continual monitoring and appropriate care, your aging loved one could succumb to depression and other mental disorders before you even realize it’s happening. With the benefits of assisted living homes, you can protect your loved one’s mental and physical health.
How Assisted Living Communities Can Help Battle Depression
Studies have shown that senior living communities aid in the battle against depression in many ways. For one, residents have dedicated teams of medical professionals at their disposal. Those caregivers, doctors, nurses, and other team members spot the warning signs of depression before the condition takes over.
From there, the caregivers can provide the necessary treatments to help your loved one overcome depression. Detection alone is one of the keys to safeguarding people against the effects of this condition. That’s only one of the ways assisted living communities can help.
Tailored Medical Care
Having staff members on hand to notice the early indications of depression is crucial. Of course, the care available at an assisted living community in Culver City, CA, extends well beyond that point. Residents receive ongoing routine health checks and medical treatments to cater to their everyday needs.
Residents also have access to specialized care for chronic and severe conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Memory care for seniors is likewise available in assisted living communities. Those who are living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia can receive all the care they need to manage the early stages of those conditions.
As their symptoms progress, staff members further tailor care strategies to meet the growing and changing needs of their memory care residents. Customized medical care can go a long way toward staving off depression. Regardless of the conditions, your loved one is dealing with, he or she will receive the necessary care at an assisted living community.
A Sense of Community and Belonging
Senior citizens often become cut off from the world. Many live alone for the first time in their adult lives. Their children have grown and started lives of their own, and their spouses have passed away. At the same time, friends they once spent time with have moved or passed on. Quite a few seniors don’t have the benefit of reaching out to friends and loved ones through social media and other outlets.
All that leads to loneliness and isolation. That makes seniors more likely to develop depression. On top of that, they tend to suffer from a range of medical issues that exacerbate the symptoms of depression. Furthermore, depression often worsens the effects of other conditions. It’s a vicious cycle that isn’t easily broken.
Senior living gives your aging loved ones a sense of community. They’re surrounded by other people in their own age range with similar interests. They have ample opportunity to mingle with other residents and make friends.
All that helps to prevent the effects of loneliness, isolation, and, by extension, depression. Instead of being alone most of the time, waiting for contact from their loved ones, and spending too much time pondering their purposes, they’re in the company of others. They have countless ways to keep their minds occupied. That can greatly reduce the risk of developing depression.
Staying Active and Engaged
In addition to having all the medical care they need and plenty of chances to socialize, seniors can enjoy an array of activities at an assisted living community. Staff members plan numerous social events, exercise programs, outings, and other activities. Those activities help keep residents from becoming sedentary and detached from the world around them as well as other benefits.
Giving Your Elderly Loved Ones the Tools They Need
At Terraza Court, we’re dedicated to the health and happiness of our residents. We offer a long list of amenities for your aging loved ones, including private and semi-private accommodations, housekeeping services, delicious meals, planned outings, social gatherings, and fitness programs. Our team is committed to providing all the senior care your loved one needs to be happy and healthy.
Seniors are at a higher risk of developing depression due to a variety of factors. Being part of an assisted living community reduces the risks and gives your aging loved one numerous way to enjoy life, engage in enriching activities, and socialize with others. They can develop a renewed sense of belonging that wards off the devastating effects of isolation and depression.
