Most people with depression can be helped. In addition to good coping skills, a social supportnetwork, and early detection being important, medication and psychotherapy have been proven very helpful in minimizing depression in the elderly. When depression is recognized, it is important to offer the person assistance . They deserve to feel better. There is treatment.
Treatment is usually a combination of medication or psychotherapy.
Medication is prescribed when a biological cause is suspected, in order to provide biochemical support. The primary goal of psychotherapy is to assist the client in recognizing and changing depression generating thoughts. This is accomplished through an educational approach focused on the interaction of thinking and feeling. Inactivity may exacerbate the problem, so the person is encouraged to organize a realistic daily schedule of activities. In this way the family, too, can be educated about the illness and assist in identifying supportive behaviors.