Depression in Later Life

An Essential Guide

By (author) Deborah Serani

Paperback - £19.99

Publication date:

28 December 2017

Length of book:

286 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781538110430

The geriatric population, defined as men and women 65 years and older, is the fastest growing population in the world. While gerontology, the study of the aging process in human beings, has brought insights about the physical, emotional, and social needs of this population, little attention has been given to the mental health of the aging, and often treatable disorders are overlooked entirely. Depression is one of the leading mental disorders in any age group, but among the elderly it is often viewed as a normal part of aging. But it’s not. Depression at any age requires attention and treatment.

For sufferers and their families and caregivers, this go-to guide introduces readers to depression among the aging and elderly. It looks at both sufferers who’ve been diagnosed in their younger years as well as those with a new diagnosis, and reviews the symptoms, the diagnostic process, treatment options including alternative and holistic approaches, and long term care for those experiencing mild, moderate, or severe depression. With real stories throughout, the book illustrates the many forms depression can take, and Serani offers a compassionate voice alongside practical advice for sufferers, caregivers, and families. An extensive resource section rounds out the book. Anyone suffering from depression in later life, and anyone who cares for someone suffering, will want to read this important guide to living well with depression in the golden years.
Psychologist Serani (Depression and Your Child) is a clinical expert on depression as well as a lifelong sufferer of the illness, and she brings a valuable mixture of experienced empathy and learned knowledge to this look at people over 65 with depression. She spends ample time unpacking the many terms necessary to her discussion, making heavy use of bullet-points and tables. The more technical information is balanced out by the case studies included at the end of each chapter, which illustrate anecdotally the different points in life at which depression can strike. Much of the book deals with navigating the various treatment options available, with an emphasis on individual agency. . . .On the whole . . . the book succeeds at addressing the needs of a rapidly increasing, but too often invisible, population.