Did you know?

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that as much as 5 percent of older adults living in the general community are suffering from clinical depression. Those figures are even higher among older adults who are hospitalized (11.5 percent) and those who require home health care (13.5 percent). The National Council on Aging reports that older adults are at an elevated risk of developing depression, though there's no single, specific cause increasing that risk. Chronic conditions, which the CDC estimates affect as much as 80 percent of older adults; decreased functional ability; reduced mobility; loneliness; and financial issues related to retirement are among the potential causes of depression in older adults.

As difficult as depression can be, the NCOA notes that treatment has been found to be just as effective for seniors as it is in younger populations. Aging individuals or those concerned about an aging relative are encouraged to visit the American Psychological Association website at psychiatry.org to learn more about the many ways depression can be treated.