According to some studies, the number of seniors with depression could be more than six million, which increases yearly. Only about 10% of the seniors diagnosed with depression will seek treatment, and many thousands more will never get diagnosed.

How Companion Care Can Help

It can be difficult for older people to talk about depression. Often they dismiss their feelings of sadness, anxiety, and loneliness as part of life. But some aspects of aging in place could contribute to your senior loved one having depression. Understandably, social isolation and lack of companionship can make depression worse. It can be challenging for seniors aging in place to make new friends. But companion care at home is a good solution. When your senior loved one has companion care at home, they have a friend who visits regularly and is around to do things like:

• Play games
• Do activities
• Listen to music
• Watch TV or movies
• Go shopping or out to lunch
• Go for walks or to the gym
• Do arts and crafts
• Have conversations with

Social Interaction is Key 

When your senior parent gets the regular social interaction, they are much less likely to struggle with the symptoms of depression. Even though depression is an actual medical illness that may require medication or other treatment, sometimes just having someone in the house to talk with can help seniors have less severe anxiety or loneliness.

Companion Care After A Loss

After losing a close friend or spouse, many seniors battle depression. If your senior parent has recently lost someone, companion care at home can help them through the grieving process. A companion will be there to listen to them, talk with them, and help them recover from the loss. Although your senior parent doesn’t readily share their feelings, having someone around can make the house feel a little less lonely and empty.

Senior Men and Depression

Men are especially prone to depression after losing a spouse who took care of them. Having a companion come to the house for a few hours each day can help your senior parent feel a sense of normalcy and calm while they grapple with their feelings of loss and fear about the future.

Companion Care Helps You

Having a companion for your senior loved one can also give you a break. You need to process your loss if you have recently lost a parent. Sometimes it’s tough for a grieving child to help their surviving parent go through the grieving process. With companion care, your senior parent has the support they need so that you don’t have to be that support for them. It gives you the space to take care of yourself emotionally. You can go through the grieving process yourself.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Companion Care at Home in Belmont, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203

Source:

https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-elderly

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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