INFOGRAPHICWELL-BEING

How Depression Can Affect Older Adults

Reviewed by Susan Ko, Ph.D.
November 07, 2024
Depression and Older Adults Depression is a mental health condition that negatively affects how you think, feel, act, and perceive the world. It may come with other mental health conditions. About 29% of people ages 50 to 64 and 20% of people 65 and ​​older report having symptoms of depression and anxiety. Why an Older Person May Feel Depressed Personal history: People who experienced depression when they were younger may be more likely to have it when they’re older. Other common reasons why older people may be at risk for depression include: Dealing with ageism Grieving the loss or illness of a spouse, family member(s), or ​​friend(s) Having another health condition or illness, such as chronic pain, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, or cancer Loss of self-sufficiency Experiencing abuse or neglect by caregivers Cognitive impairment Feeling lonely or socially isolated When it comes to social isolation, 27% of older people who lived alone reported feeling depressed versus 19% who lived with others. Other research suggests that loneliness depends on the person. Some people live alone just fine without feeling lonely. Others don’t. Perceived loneliness can contribute to depression, increased negativity, reduced cognition, and other issues. Signs of Depression Depression may cause any of these symptoms: Fatigue or lack of energy Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or guilt Decreased ability to think, concentrate, remember things, or make decisions Hopelessness or pessimism Difficulty sleeping Appetite changes Decreased energy Physical aches or pains, like headaches, cramps, or digestive problems, without a clear physical cause Movements that serve no purpose, like pacing or rapid talking, or a slowing down of movement, thought, or speech Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide Depression and typical aging can share some similar symptoms. But depression is not a normal part of aging. And though a person may experience those age-related changes, it doesn’t mean they’re depressed. Studies suggest that most older adults actually feel satisfied with their lives—even though they may be more likely to have a chronic health condition or physical limitations. For someone to be diagnosed with a depressive disorder, several specific criteria must be met, including that symptoms need to be present for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks. The Impact of Depression on Older Adults Depression can be severe in older adults, with a disproportionate risk of death by suicide: Older adults make up about 17% of the population but they account for 22% of suicide deaths. The risk is especially high for men. There are several reasons for this, including greater difficulty in recovering from a suicide attempt due to health conditions. Never ignore warning signs of suicide, including: Loss of interest in usual activities Giving away belongings, or changing a will Avoiding social gatherings Neglecting self-care or medical treatment Lack of concern for personal safety Seeming very preoccupied with death Text or call 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, if you or someone you know is in crisis. Counselors can provide free, confidential support. Most people’s depression can get better with help. Common depression treatments for older adults include: Therapy focused on: Improving relationships Creating more positive thinking and behavior patterns Reflecting on the past to become more satisfied in the present Antidepressant medication How to Help Yourself If you think you may be depressed, these tips can help you get care and treatment to start feeling better. Reach Out It can sometimes be uncomfortable to discuss mental health, but if you’re feeling depressed and no one’s checked in, be brave and tell someone. A primary care provider or other doctor can screen you for depression and offer research-backed treatments like psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. Stay Active Exercise—especially walking, yoga, and strength ​​training—is an effective treatment for depression. Talk to your doctor about what type of physical activity may be helpful for you. If your physical abilities have changed, there may be some new type of movement you can try. Make exercise a social activity. For example, join a water fitness class or golf with a friend. This helps prevent loneliness and keeps you motivated to stay active. Connect Socially Having stable and supportive relationships helps people cope with stress and combat loneliness. Think about how you can build relationships and spend time with others. Consider connecting with people in: Your neighborhood Your place of worship Community centers Recreational groups​​ Ask a Friend or Loved-One for a Hug Making physical contact can help depression. “Older people are often touched less often, and many experience ‘touch hunger,’” says Rosanne Leipzig, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and author of Honest Aging: An Insider’s Guide to the Second Half of Life. But touch is necessary, she says: “Touch precipitates the release of oxytocin, a brain chemical that decreases stress hormone levels, lowers blood pressure, maintains good mood, and increases pain tolerance.” Write It Out Journaling can help people manage stress and depression by providing an opportunity to rid the mind of pent-up thoughts and feelings. Journaling may be especially helpful if you don’t have many people to speak to or share things with regularly. Spend Time Outdoors Research suggests that spending time outside around greenery or water can help lower serious psychological distress in older adults. Find Empathy You won’t “just snap out of it,” says Carol Podgorski, Ph.D., a marriage and family therapist and a professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Rochester in New York. Find someone who can be a supportive presence to you. This is someone who’ll listen and validate your emotions, whether it’s a friend, family member, or mental health professional. Sources: American Psychiatric Association. What is Depression? 2024. Cacioppo, J.T., and Hawkley, L.C., (2009) Perceived social isolation and cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How Does Social Connectedness Affect Health? 2023. Cleveland Clinic. Depression. 2023. Juntapim, S. (2020) Mental Health Problem in Older Adults Living Alone: Challenges Issues. American Journal of Nursing Studies. Kaiser Family Foundation. Analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, Household Pulse survey. 2023. National Council on Aging. Suicide and Older Adults: What You Should Know. 2024. National Institutes of Health. National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. 2024. National Institutes of Health, National Institution on Aging. Depression and Older Adults. 2021. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Aging. Social isolation, loneliness in older people pose health risks. 2019. Noetel, M. et al (2024) Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. ProMatura International/Associated Retired Community Operators poll. 2019. Ribeiro-Gonçalves J.A, et al. (2023) Loneliness, ageism, and mental health: The buffering role of resilience in seniors. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. Schladitz, K. et al. (2021) Grief and loss in old age: Exploration of the association between grief and depression. Journal of Affective Disorders. The Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Older ​​Adults. 2021. Tabrizi, N. et al. (2023) Green space and the health of the older adult during pandemics: a narrative review on the experience of COVID-19. Frontiers in Public Health. University of Rochester. Journaling for Emotional Wellness. 2024. Vegaraju, A. and Amiri, S. (2024) Urban green and blue spaces and general and mental health among older adults in Washington state: Analysis of BRFSS data between 2011-2019. Health & Place. World Health Organization. Mental health of older adults. 2023.

For the text version of this infographic, read on.

Depression and Older Adults

Depression is a mental health condition that negatively affects how you think, feel, act, and perceive the world. It may come with other mental health conditions.

About 29% of people ages 50 to 64 and 20% of people 65 and ​​older report having symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Why an Older Person May Feel Depressed

Personal history: People who experienced depression when they were younger may be more likely to have it when they’re older.

Other common reasons why older people may be at risk for depression include:

When it comes to social isolation, 27% of older people who lived alone reported feeling depressed versus 19% who lived with others.

Other research suggests that loneliness depends on the person.

  • Some people live alone just fine without feeling lonely.
  • Others don’t.

Perceived loneliness can contribute to depression, increased negativity, reduced cognition, and other issues.

Signs of Depression

Depression may cause any of these symptoms:

  • Fatigue or lack of energy
  • Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or guilt
  • Decreased ability to think, concentrate, remember things, or make decisions
  • Hopelessness or pessimism
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Appetite changes
  • Decreased energy
  • Physical aches or pains, like headaches, cramps, or digestive problems, without a clear physical cause
  • Movements that serve no purpose, like pacing or rapid talking, or a slowing down of movement, thought, or speech
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Depression and typical aging can share some similar symptoms. But depression is not a normal part of aging.

And though a person may experience those age-related changes, it doesn’t mean they’re depressed.

Studies suggest that most older adults actually feel satisfied with their lives—even though they may be more likely to have a chronic health condition or physical limitations.

For someone to be diagnosed with a depressive disorder, several specific criteria must be met, including that symptoms need to be present for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks.

The Impact of Depression on Older Adults

Depression can be severe in older adults, with a disproportionate risk of death by suicide: Older adults make up about 17% of the population but they account for 22% of suicide deaths. The risk is especially high for men.

There are several reasons for this, including greater difficulty in recovering from a suicide attempt due to health conditions.

Never ignore warning signs of suicide, including:

  • Loss of interest in usual activities
  • Giving away belongings, or changing a will
  • Avoiding social gatherings
  • Neglecting self-care or medical treatment
  • Lack of concern for personal safety
  • Seeming very preoccupied with death

Text or call 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, if you or someone you know is in crisis. Counselors can provide free, confidential support.

Most people’s depression can get better with help.

Common depression treatments for older adults include:

Therapy focused on:

  • Improving relationships
  • Creating more positive thinking and behavior patterns
  • Reflecting on the past to become more satisfied in the present

Antidepressant medication

How to Help Yourself

If you think you may be depressed, these tips can help you get care and treatment to start feeling better.

Reach Out

It can sometimes be uncomfortable to discuss mental health, but if you’re feeling depressed and no one’s checked in, be brave and tell someone.

A primary care provider or other doctor can screen you for depression and offer research-backed treatments like psychotherapy and antidepressant medication.

Stay Active

Exercise—especially walking, yoga, and strength ​​training—is an effective treatment for depression.

Talk to your doctor about what type of physical activity may be helpful for you. If your physical abilities have changed, there may be some new type of movement you can try.

Make exercise a social activity. For example, join a water fitness class or golf with a friend. This helps prevent loneliness and keeps you motivated to stay active.

Connect Socially

Having stable and supportive relationships helps people cope with stress and combat loneliness. Think about how you can build relationships and spend time with others.

Consider connecting with people in:

  • Your neighborhood
  • Your place of worship
  • Community centers
  • Recreational groups​​

Ask a Friend or Loved-One for a Hug

Making physical contact can help depression.

“Older people are often touched less often, and many experience ‘touch hunger,’” says Rosanne Leipzig, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and author of Honest Aging: An Insider’s Guide to the Second Half of Life.

But touch is necessary, she says: “Touch precipitates the release of oxytocin, a brain chemical that decreases stress hormone levels, lowers blood pressure, maintains good mood, and increases pain tolerance.”

Write It Out

Journaling can help people manage stress and depression by providing an opportunity to rid the mind of pent-up thoughts and feelings. Journaling may be especially helpful if you don’t have many people to speak to or share things with regularly.

Spend Time Outdoors

Research suggests that spending time outside around greenery or water can help lower serious psychological distress in older adults.

Find Empathy

You won’t “just snap out of it,” says Carol Podgorski, Ph.D., a marriage and family therapist and a professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Rochester in New York.

Find someone who can be a supportive presence to you. This is someone who’ll listen and validate your emotions, whether it’s a friend, family member, or mental health professional.

Sources:

American Psychiatric Association. What is Depression? 2024.

Cacioppo, J.T., and Hawkley, L.C., (2009) Perceived social isolation and cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How Does Social Connectedness Affect Health? 2023.

Cleveland Clinic. Depression. 2023.

Juntapim, S. (2020) Mental Health Problem in Older Adults Living Alone: Challenges Issues. American Journal of Nursing Studies.

Kaiser Family Foundation. Analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, Household Pulse survey. 2023.

National Council on Aging. Suicide and Older Adults: What You Should Know. 2024.

National Institutes of Health. National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. 2024.

National Institutes of Health, National Institution on Aging. Depression and Older Adults. 2021.

National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Aging. Social isolation, loneliness in older people pose health risks. 2019.

Noetel, M. et al (2024) Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ.

ProMatura International/Associated Retired Community Operators poll. 2019.
Ribeiro-Gonçalves J.A, et al. (2023) Loneliness, ageism, and mental health: The buffering role of resilience in seniors. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology.

Schladitz, K. et al. (2021) Grief and loss in old age: Exploration of the association between grief and depression. Journal of Affective Disorders.

The Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Older ​Adults. 2021.

Tabrizi, N. et al. (2023) Green space and the health of the older adult during pandemics: a narrative review on the experience of COVID-19. Frontiers in Public Health.

University of Rochester. Journaling for Emotional Wellness. 2024.

Vegaraju, A. and Amiri, S. (2024) Urban green and blue spaces and general and mental health among older adults in Washington state: Analysis of BRFSS data between 2011-2019. Health & Place.

World Health Organization. Mental health of older adults. 2023.