Preventing Depression and Suicidal Thoughts for the Elderly

Family members often don’t see the warning signs, and write off crippling loneliness or depression by stating that “Grandpa will land on his feet, he always does”. But very few of them actually recover such a dark emotional spiral…

Social isolation, unexpected losses within the family, constant arguments with other relatives all contribute to the idea of giving up. It’s important to remain cautious if the aging person has medication or alcohol issues. Still, the most obvious signs are when they start giving away their saved money and prized possession or making worrying threats, such as “You’d be better off without me”.

You must subtly challenge them and give them purpose. This can be done either by buying them a new pet or introducing them to social events. Tech-savvy aging adults find tons of opportunities browsing a smartphone, but registering on a dating site for the elderly also has its perks, since most users of their age log in only to chat and make friends.

Care and support through a medical alert system

Note that in this case the help doesn’t come directly from the product itself, but through the service the hardware comes with. Medical alert companies house an HQ full of monitoring agents who are trained to deal with any situation a senior may face, including emotional despair and depression.

Unlike suicide hotlines – where the operators may not know how to handle an aging person – monitoring agents are taught how to calm down a troubled elderly person. The staff members speak in a calm, reassuring manner and are capable of assessing the situation from a few questions. Some medical alert companies support the idea that customers are allowed to call the agents in non-emergency situations and have a brief chat. Knowing that there is someone out there they can rely on and talk to when they feel down is a huge boost for a senior struggling with depression.