| Provide practical daily help. | | | | together, such as a morning walk around the |
| When someone is diagnosed with depression, the | | | | neighborhood. Exposure to sunlight can help break |
| doctor may prescribe antidepressant medications | | | | the cycle of sleeping during the day that many |
| and/or psychotherapy. The doctor may also | | | | depressed people fall into. |
| recommend lifestyle changes. You may need to | | | | -Structure the day around activities that give her |
| drive her to appointments, remind her to take | | | | pleasure and a sense of purpose. For example, |
| new medications, help her get out more, or help | | | | meet friends for lunch or enjoy a leisurely walk |
| her make other lifestyle changes. | | | | through the mall. |
| Get her to a professional. | | | | -Join a support group -- for either or both of you. |
| Even if a primary care doctor diagnosed the | | | | Talking to other people who're struggling with |
| depression, the person may still benefit from | | | | similar issues can be enormously comforting and |
| seeing a mental health professional. Not all primary | | | | helpful. It's also a great way to connect with |
| care physicians are comfortable treating | | | | other people her age and caregivers. |
| depression. | | | | If you've tried everything you can and nothing |
| Provide reassurance. | | | | seems to help, remember it's not all up to you. In |
| Older adults are often anxious about taking | | | | the end, it's really the responsibility of the person |
| antidepressants, either because of the stigma | | | | suffering from depression to get help for herself. |
| they associate with such medications or because | | | | If she won't talk to her doctor or comply with |
| they're afraid of potential side effects. Assure the | | | | treatment, you can't make her do it. Keep |
| person in your care that the doctor can work | | | | offering support and provide positive |
| with her to find the medication that's most | | | | reinforcement when she takes those difficult |
| effective with the least-severe side effects. | | | | steps toward recovery.If feelings of guilt or |
| Here are some other things you can do to | | | | sadness about the situation overwhelm you, you |
| support her: | | | | may need help coming to terms with the fact |
| -Help her stay as physically active as possible. | | | | that your loved one isn't going to get help. Ask |
| -Make sure you talk to her doctor about what | | | | your own doctor for information about support |
| activities are appropriate before beginning any | | | | groups and other resources to help you manage |
| exercise program. Find activities you can do | | | | your own feelings. |