Helping Seniors Battle Depression After a Heart Attack
While surviving a heart attack is a reason for celebration, many seniors encounter an unexpected but prevalent syndrome called post-heart attack depression. Additionally, individuals who suffer from depression are more likely to have a heart attack later than those who do not have mental health difficulties. You must take the time to be with your seniors after they have had a heart attack. If you cannot be with your senior after this major event, it is time to hire someone to be there for your senior.
Hiring professional home care assistance can help your senior battle depression after a heart attack and ensure there is someone in the house who can look for signs and symptoms of depression. Even if you hire home care assistance to help in a senior’s home, you should also understand what the signs are and what to do if these symptoms persist.
Symptoms of Depression
Home Care Assistance in Spokane Valley, WA: Depression and Heart Attacks
Depression is a mental condition characterized by an ongoing sense of melancholy and lack of interest. Also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, this condition impairs your feelings, thoughts, and behavior and may result in several emotional and physical difficulties. Here are some symptoms of depression.
- Feelings of sadness or emptiness.
- Irritability or outbursts.
- Loss of interest in things that were once pleasurable.
- Lack of energy.
- Sleeping struggles.
- Feelings of guilt.
- Trouble thinking.
- Physical problems.
If a senior is hyper-focused on the heart attack they just had, it may cause them to fall into a bout of depression. Although feeling blue once in a while is normal, if it continues, it can lead to other problems like depression which can be hard to work on.
What To Do If a Senior Has Symptoms
You know what to look for, but what do you do if a senior you are looking after has these? Every person is different, and it may take different things to help them battle these feelings. If the feelings are fleeting, it may be a normal bout of the blues, but if they persist, you will need to go a step further. Here are some things you can do to help your seniors.
Take Them To a Doctor
Consult with the senior’s primary care physician for a depression evaluation and therapy recommendation. It is critical to recognize and treat depression as soon as possible. Ensure that the doctor knows the seniors started displaying these symptoms after a senior had a heart attack.
Cardiac Rehabilitation for Seniors
Depression after a heart attack may be alleviated by learning and adopting healthy lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. Cardiac rehabilitation is often administered in a group environment, facilitating social connection with people who may sympathize with and understand the senior’s situation and provide appropriate support.
Ensure The Seniors Are Taking Medications
Failure to take cardiac drugs as prescribed might result in depression, and someone sad may be unable to convince themselves to take their pills, creating a vicious cycle. This is something crucial that needs to be focused on.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering home care assistance in Spokane Valley, WA please contact the caring staff at Angel Senior Care today at (509) 326-4357.
After watching our own family members struggle with the need for compassionate home care, we determined that we could be that caring solution and provide home care in Spokane – not just for our family, but for seniors throughout Spokane County. We like to think of our clients as our extended family, and we treat them with the same dignity and respect our own grandparents and parents would expect to receive.
Our feeling is that while all of our caregivers need to be qualified in terms of certifications and experience, our goal is to hire those that are unique in their drive to show service and respect to the elderly. We hire only those caregivers who share our purpose, passion, and commitment.
Between the two of us, we have more than 30 years’ combined experience in the health care industry and are committed to providing the best Spokane senior care. We have utilized that experience to create a care-centered business model that puts the health and well being of our clients first.
When you entrust the care of your loved one to the experience and commitment of Angel Senior Care, you can rest easy knowing they are looked after, both physically and emotionally.
Sincerely, Vaughn & Donna Young
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