DO offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance. It may make the person feel as if you don t understand. DO take action. Remove easy methods they might use to kill themselves. There are resources available to help suicidal elders.
Suicide is preventable at any age.
Most suicidal persons do not want to die so much as they want to be rid of their emotional or physical pain. They need help. Depression is not a normal part of aging. The treatment for depression has a very high success rate. We can prevent the premature, unnecessary self-inflicted deaths of our seniors.