1. Obtain patients’ histories from themselves and their caretakers.
2. For diagnosing more complex cases, patients should be seen longitudinally. 
3. Understanding that there is a possibility of substance use being the leading cause for symptoms. 

Diagnosing Depression amongst the Elderly 

Illness, cognitive impairment, and depression can be bidirectional. 

Depression: Bidirectional interactions

Diseases affecting organ systems, such as chronic renal failure, are tied to depression and cognitive impairments in memory, attention, processing speed, and executive functions. 

Depression: Organ Systems

Suicide amongst the Elderly 

Exercise for the elderly population experiencing late-life depression has modest benefits. Despite needing more research, the proposed benefits are improved mechanism of biochemical effects on neurotrophic factors, the serotonin transporter system, and neuroprotective effects on areas including the hippocampal frontal lobes and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. 

Physical Activity and Late-Life Depression 

- Late-life depression impacts 3.0-4.5% of adults over 65 in the U.S. 
- Depressed elderly suffer from normal cognitive aging to mild to major neurocognitive disorders. 


Skidmore College

Elderly, due to their heightened risk of contracting COVID-19 from their weakened immune systems, are also at higher risk for increased anxiety, stress and fear. 

Psychological attention should be directed on:
- Female seniors
- Low-educated seniors
- Divorced and widowed seniors
- Those living alone
- Those with sleep issues
- Those with mental health issues

Higher risk groups for mental health issues within.the elderly population

Wang, S., &amp; Blazer, D. G. (2015). Depression and cognition in the elderly. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 11(1), 331–360. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032814-112828 

Depression and cognition in the elderly. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology,

This survey conducted in China showed 37.1% of seniors studied experienced depression and anxiety during COVID-19. This study (n=1556) based off a self-developed questionnaire called Psychological Status of the Seniors during COVID-19, examined several factors such as gender, age, educational status, marriage status, living conditions, etc. to determine which sub group was most at greater mental health risk. Suggestions to improve mental health outcomes in these populations included concentrating psychological on sub-groups most at risk, improving the mechanism of psychological counselling for seniors, improve psychological health education in the media and encouraging recommendations to consult psychological hotlines, online consultations or professional institutions. 

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