Hey!

It has been an amazing quarter and I have really enjoyed learning a little more about depression, happiness, and aging. It is interesting to see how this blog has evolved since I first came up with the idea two months ago. Back then I was more interested with the idea of the myth of happiness and aging and wanted to look at the causes for that myth in American culture (the myth – that old people are unhappy).

The great thing about a blog is that it can change and evolve into something so much better than you ever imagined. Instead of focusing on the myth I have taken a more direct approach, looking at ways that people can improve their happiness in old age. I have talked a lot about depression and provided information about treatment and prevention techniques. Some have been more obscure (Wii and Tai Chi) and others have been very straightforward (technology). I think the most important thing I have learned along this whole journey is that social networks are incredibly important at any age and happiness can be achieved through friendship, family, and activity.

As I look to the future, I want to continue to spread awareness about depression in the elderly community because there is some confusion that still exists about what is normal aging and what is depression that needs treatment. For my final project for this class, I created a poster filled with information I have found over the last ten weeks about symptoms, treatment, resources, and information for family and friends of people who have depression. I hope to find somewhere in the community to display it for people of all ages to see.

One important thing I have learned is that you don’t need to be depressed to seek out ways to strengthen your social network and add fun activities to your life. Friendship and community involvement can happen at any age and as has been stressed so many times in my longevity class, these things will help to create an intergenerational dialogue that will be essential moving forward and might one day help counteract the very myth that started me on this journey.

Thank you for taking this journey with me.

Until next time,

Caitlin

I want to thank you all for reading what I have to say.

Hey Everyone,

In class this past week we were talking about ways that technology can help make aging easier and better. When I was doing my research for the last post on Wii I came across this product that I thought I would mention here. It’s a computer designed especially for seniors. Here is the link: http://www.aplusseniorcomputer.com/?gclid=CIiz7tfikqcCFcpU2godDQi9dw

I wanted to post this because I have talked a lot about the value of social networks in both the treatment and prevention of depression in older adults. In our wired world, it is important to keep connections with people who are both near and far. We are seeing this a lot with skype (an online, free, phone call/video chat service) and also social networking sites like Facebook.com and also Eons.com which I profiled in an earlier entry.

This computer is designed for people who are new to technology. The keys feature bigger print and it is easy to set up and comes with excellent phone support. I am hesitant about their label of “senior computer” because I think that there are some people under 65 years of age who would enjoy a computer that does exactly what they want without all the bells and whistles. I also think that there are people over 65 years old who want a Mac or PC and have no problem with the technology included.

That being said, it is important for people of all ages to utilize computers and internet to help keep connections in our increasingly mobile and wireless world. Nothing can replace a live interaction with someone sitting right next to you, but if all of your friends live far away, it can be great to connect to them using the technology available and that is why I think it is important to let people know a resource like this is out there.

I can’t believe that the quarter (and school year is coming to an end). In my next (and final) post, I hope to look at where we have been so far and where we need to look moving forward.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Hey!

I found some articles and videos this week about interesting alternative solutions to increase movement and alleviate the symptoms of depression that I want to share.

The first is all about Tai Chi (Here is the link:  http://www.redorbit.com/news/video/top_news/2/tai_chi_helps_depression_in_the_elderly/35181/?src=mrss).The video talks about how researchers found that Tai Chi, when combined with anti-depressants, can decrease symptoms of depression and improve quality of life, memory, and increase energy. I did a little digging and found the cited study online (http://tcccommunity.net/uploads/TCCc_Complementary_Use_of_Tai_Chi_published_0311.pdf). When I was reading this study, I also thought about how having social interaction can decrease the symptoms of depression. These participants were attending weekly Tai Chi sessions and that allowed them to have scheduled weekly interactions with other people which is also beneficial. When looking at ways to counteract depression in the elderly, Tai Chi might be one step that can be taken to make that happen. Plus it’s a good thing to get up and move for people of all ages

The second article is about how video games might be good for the elderly. After playing with Wii, they felt a greater “sense of self and purpose.” The experience of playing games on Wii can bring back memories of playing those games before and that can counteract the sense of loss (because the person can partake in an activity from their past they have positive memories of) that can be one of the factors for developing depression. Here is the link: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/02/physical-video-games-may-help-the-elderly-psychologically/71184/. The article also had a link to another articleabout a study that found that 1/3 of depressed older adults who played Wii showed a 50% decrease in symptoms (http://universityofcalifornia.edu/sites/uchealth/2010/02/25/depressed-try-wii-hab/).  Taken together, playing Wii allows for physical movement, a sense of purpose, pleasure and enjoyment, and can counteract a sense of loss that comes with aging.

I like that both these interventions (Wii and Tai Chi) are simple and relatively easy to implement in daily life but are unconventional. I wouldn’t think to recommend Tai Chi classes or a session playing Wii tennis but these methods appear to decrease symptoms and are also fun things to do. I am going to keep looking for interesting solutions to increase happiness later in life and ward off or improve symptoms of depression and will let you all know what I find.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Hi everyone!

This week I want to talk more broadly about social support and the impact it can have on depression in the elderly. We all know that having friends is a very good thing. In a 1991 study by Russel and Cutrona of elderly individuals (over 60 years old), it was found that a lack of social support “had a direct effect on levels of depression 1 year later.” Often times, loneliness can be one of the main causes of depression and treatment can be more successful when the person is able to interact with other people.

It is important to remember that social support needs to be positive. Having someone there who has good intentions but acts in a way that decreases the well-being of the other person is not what we mean by social support. Friends and family need to be there to provide love, assistance, and be someone to listen.

As I mentioned in my previous entries, such sites as Eons.com and computer resources like Skype (free video calling) have made it easier for older adults to connect with friends and family who do not live nearby. Doing this research has shown me the importance of keeping contacts with other people who can be there to listen and provide a support system when life gets difficult – be that by providing advice, emotional support, or even physical assistance like driving someone to the hospital or grocery store.

Depression is not a normal part of aging! We can help decrease the risk for developing late onset depression by keeping a strong, positive social support system of friends and family both near and far. For those who are depressed later in life, having a support system can improve their course of treatment and reduce the severity of their symptoms. It is important to try and find a network of individuals who live close by who can help in the day to day tasks that family living 500 miles away can’t do. If we build the connections now and keep those connections strong, we can help improve people’s well-being, especially in old age.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Hi all,

This post is a little different than previous posts. I have been doing research for social support and depression in elderly and have hit upon some interesting bits and pieces that I want to share. I am still planning on doing a post on social support (offline) but I want to put that off for now and talk about some of the things I have found!

In my last post, I talked about some of the social networking options available for the boomers online. One of the sites I mentioned was Eons.com which is kind of like Facebook for the boomers. I was asked how many people are currently using Eons.com and did a little digging. I found this great article from 2009 that gives a nice summary of what Eons.com is and who it caters to (http://www.infotoday.com/linkup/lud071509-stern.shtml). The article said that they get 830,000 daily users (that was in 2009). I went to webinformation.co to get the numbers for 2011 and they are averaging 24,757 daily vistors, which is down quite a bit from the 2009 numbers but still a nice number. I am going to try and do a little more digging to see why this decrease might have happened.

I have been googling various combinations of “social support, depression, aging” for a few days now. In one of my searches, I stumbled upon this program – PEARLS (http://www.pearlsprogram.org/) – that I wanted to talk a little bit about. It is an in-home training program for older adults with depression and adults with epilepsy that they claim is effective in reducing the symptoms of depression. According to the website, it is a series of 6-8 sessions over a 6 month period that focuses on problem solving, “behavioral activation and pleasant activities scheduling” and the program can be both an at home program or integrated into a community setting. Sounded interesting and seems to be an interesting way to provide treatment for elderly individuals because it requires no outside work for them – the treatment comes right to their door!

Ok, my next post will get back on track and look at social support and depression from a more empirical framework. I hope to take these resources I have presented in my last two blog posts and provide explanations on why these options for creating a social network are so important!

Until next time,

Caitlin

Hi guys!

In my last post I talked about some of the resources and options available for older people suffering from depression. One of the ways I found to help prevent or alleviate symptoms is strong social support and a social network. I started doing some research and found out a lot of information about online social networking and seniors.

Googling “social networks” immediately brings up tons of pages about the Facebook movie that came out last year, but one of the more interesting hits I did find was a New York Times article about how seniors and younger boomers are using online social networking sites as a way to stay connected to old friends, make new friends who have similar interests, and deal with the boredom that can come when someone is living alone. For seniors who are living alone, loneliness and boredom coupled with social isolation can increase their risk for depression and suicide. This article talks about how valuable social networking is for seniors who may not have friends in the area or are now living in some form of retirement home or assisted living situation. Here is the link to the article from June of 2009 entitled “Online, ‘a Reason to Keep on Going’” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/health/02face.html

Two websites in particular were mentioned in the article are http://www.eons.com/ and http://www.mywayvillage.com/. I decided to go check them out for myself.

Eons.com is facebook for the boomers. It’s free which is awesome and from the home page it looks like when you sign up you get a profile, join groups and play games that are designed to help “strengthen your brain.” I tried to make a page but the human verification component was down

MyWayVillage.com is a program that families and seniors can use to keep in contact. There is a web-based interface with photos, mail, calendar and games. They are focused on getting seniors online and making that process as easy as possible. It looks like a great tool for people who do not have as much experience with the Internet and the online experience.

That’s all for now. Next time I’ll look more at social support and networks outside of the computer

Until next time,

Caitlin

In my last post, I talked about depression in the elderly population and symptoms to look out for. In this post I wanted to talk a little more about treatment options, prevention, and also this really cool podcast I found.

I want to start off with the podcast. When I was looking into depression and the elderly, I stumbled across this podcast called The Down & Up Show which is all about depression. The specific episode I found and wanted to share with you all was from August 2007 and is all about late-life depression. If you want to take a listen, here is the link (it is episode #15 at the bottom of the page): http://depressionisreal.org/podcast/archive_2007_08.php.

One of the points I touched upon in my last post was how depression in the elderly is not a normal part of aging. Elderly who are suffering from depression later in life include both people who have had episodes of depression earlier in their lives and people who have their first episode of depression at 70, 80, or even 90 – which is called late-onset depression. Due to the stresses and losses associated with aging, symptoms in both populations can be overlooked as typical and as a result only 10% of the depressed elderly population receive treatment for their symptoms.

While drugs including antidepressants, SSRIs, and SNRIs can be effective for treatment of depression in this age group, some other options to consider for both treatment and also to help prevent the onset of depression include individual or group therapy, physical exercise or group-based physical exercise programs, improvements in diet, and any sort of that can help relieve loneliness and sadness including volunteer work, outings with friends, family, or neighbors, or regular visitors. It is important to remember that depression is treatable and that the symptoms should not be ignored or blindly accepted as normal and if someone is at risk for depression both social interaction and an increase in physical activity can help (even if that means doing some minimal movement – any movement and activity can help).

Some resources for the elderly who are suffering from depression include the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation, Center For Mental Health Services (Federal Government), Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance, Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression, Older Adults Mental Health Alliance, and many others. A nice list of resources can be found at: http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/resources.html

In my next post I want to look more into social support and it’s impact on depression and also happiness in the elderly.

Until next time,

Caitlin

In my last post, I talked about a common myth in our society: old people are unhappy. In this post I want to talk a little more about the impact this myth has on the older population and how it impacts our own perception of those 65 and older.

First, it is important to emphasize that depression is not a part of normal aging. Many people do not realize this, in part because there is this belief that older people are more unhappy so it would make sense that depression would be a part of that. As a result, many people who are older and suffering from depression go undiagnosed.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, as of October 2009 6.5 million of the 35 million Americans over the age of 65 in the United States (18.6%) are affected by depression. In the general population, about 15 million people are depressed (5-8%).

In 2007, the life expectancy for men in the United States was 75.4 years and for women was 80.4 years meaning that women tend to outlive men by 5 years. As of 2008, women account for 57% of the 65 and older age bracket and 65.5% of the 85 and older age bracket. Women are also 70% more likely than men to experience depression in their lifetime which also impacts the rates of depression in this group when the demographic is skewed towards one gender.

There are many risk factors that increase the chance for depression in older adults including biological make-up, illnesses that impact quality of life, or stressful life events. Depression seems to be coupled with loss, be it financial, social, emotion, or physical. It is important to know some of the common symptoms of depression to look out for in older adults. According to NAMI’s fact sheet on major depression in older adults, some common symptoms are:

1. Memory Problems
2. Confusion
3. Social Withdrawal
4. Loss of appetite
5. Weight Loss
6. Vague complaints of pain
7. Inability to sleep
8. Irritability
9. Delusions
10. Hallucinations

Once we start to realize that depression is not supposed to be part of normal aging, then we can take steps to help those who are depressed seek treatment. Depression is one of the most treatable illnesses out there and if it is caught early, there should be no problem handling the symptoms.

If you want to know more about depression, symptoms, etc. here are some interesting links I found:

http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=A82DFCA2-AFE8-3478-1A4E1F9445D46407

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7515

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/older-adults-depression-and-suicide-facts-fact-sheet/index.shtml#part-of-aging

In my next entry, I want to explore ways that people can prevent and treat depression in the older population.

Until next time,

Caitlin

To begin this blog, I want to start off by exploring a common myth in our society – older people are unhappy.

I was under the impression for a long time that people over the age of 65 were not as happy as people in their 20s and 30s.

Some of the reasons:

• Physical problems that increase with age
• Retirement which can lead to a lack of things to do
• The deaths of close friends, family, and spouses
• The realization that life does not stretch on forever

It was surprising for me to find out that people over the age of 65 are actually happier than their younger counterparts.

In 2008, the Gallup Organization conducted a telephone survey of over 300,000 people where they were asked about well-being. In 2010 Stone, Schwartz, Broderick, and Deaton examined the responses of 340,847 people between the ages of 18-85 to look at affect over the lifespan (here is a link to their actual paper http://www.pnas.org/content/107/22/9985). Here are their findings…

• Happiness and Enjoyment have a U-Shaped pattern where happiness steadily decreases until about age 50 and then begins increasing with age.
• Anger and Stress were shown to decrease with age.
• Sadness has an inverted U-shaped pattern – which is consistent with the happiness and enjoyment findings.

These findings indicate that people over the age of 50 are happier and have less stress and anger. This idea of increased happiness is supported by Laura Carstensen’s book, A Long Bright Future. In the text, Dr. Carstensen discusses how older individuals have fewer negative emotions and are able to control the ones they do have better than their younger counterparts (page 16). It appears that old age is one of the happier times in the lifespan!

In the next few weeks, I want to delve more into why the myth of unhappy aging exists.

Some of the questions I want to address are…

What are some of the issues older Americans (over 65) face in old age that supports the myth?

How does society’s impression of the aging population impact our perception of their happiness?

What can be done to change the public perceptions about happiness in old age to help decrease the prevalence of this myth?

Until next time,

Caitlin