Depression among older adults is far more common than we freely admit. Some estimates place the condition in 8-20% of older adults nationwide. Here in Hawaii the estimates are lower – 4-8 % but for those residents in nursing homes the estimate jumps to 70%! It’s not hard to imagine why. They have lost much of their personal dignity to physical conditions they have little or control over. They are not able to make many personal decisions concerning schedules, activities or even what they will eat and drink. And on top of all that – they are living somewhere unfamiliar, among other people they usually do not know and sometimes with whom they cannot even communicate.
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Other Resources
American Geriatrics Associationwww.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/alzcare.shtml
National Institute for Complimentary and Alternative Medicinenccam.nih.gov
National Institute of Mental Healthwww.nimh.nih.gov
National Alliance for the Mentally Illwww.nami.org
National Mental Health Associationwww.nmha.org
National Library of Medicinewww.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
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