Depression in older people
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What's new
August 2010 - Seniors events in the Northern Territory and Queensland
During August, it is Seniors Month in the Northern Territory and Seniors Week (August 14-22) in Queensland. beyondblue is pleased to support both these events. In the NT, beyondblue information will be distributed at events in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy, Katherine and other shires. In Queensland, beyondblue will have an information stall at the Seniors Expo at Riverside Receptions Centre, 50 Oxlade Drive, New Farm, Brisbane, on August 15. Council on the Ageing Queensland is also organising an intergenerational walk.
During Seniors events, beyondblue will also honour people who are OBE - Over Bl**dy Eighty! with a fantastic new publication that draws on stories and insights from a remarkable group of OBEs, who prove age is no barrier to a healthy and active lifestyle. Read more about our OBE campaign and find out how to order a free copy of the booklet.
May 2010 - Opportunities for older people to help beyondblue
beyondblue is looking for older people who have personal experience of depression or anxiety (either directly or through a family member of friend) to help with its work. Two opportunities are currently available: first, we are looking for people willing to be interviewed to help inform a national awareness campaign targeted at older people; and second, we invite older people to join our BlueVoices National Reference Group. Read more...
April 2010 - Positive Living in Aged Care Awards
beyondblue is pleased to help promote the Positive Living in Aged Care Awards - a NSW Government initiative aimed at promoting positive approaches to preventing and managing mental health conditions in residential aged care settings.
April 2010 - Black Dog Institute announces the results of its essay competition on 'Late Onset Depression: Finding answers for older people and their carers'. The competition attracted 76 entries from all around Australia and the winning and highly commended entries are now available to read on the Black Dog Institute's website. The essays provide rich insights into how depression impacts the over 60's.
February 2010 - Depression in older age: A scoping study, Final Report September 2009. This study was conducted by the National Ageing Research Institute and funded by beyondblue.
Depression and anxiety in older people
beyondblue's research shows that it is a commonly-held view among people of all ages - including older people - that as we age, we experience accumulative losses and that it is normal for people to become depressed as they reach later life.
Additionally, some people consider depression to be a weakness of character and not a health problem, so they don't talk about how they're feeling.
Older people are not necessarily more prone to depression than other age groups, but there are certain risk factors in late life that can greatly increase people's chances of developing depression, including:
- An increase in physical health problems/conditions e.g. heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease
- Chronic pain
- Side-effects from medications
- Losses: relationships, independence, work and income, self-worth, mobility and flexibility
- Social isolation
- Significant change in living arrangements e.g. moving from an independent to care setting
- Admission to hospital
- Particular anniversaries and the memories they evoke.
The most important message about depression and older people is that depression is not a normal part of ageing. Depression is a common health problem and with the right treatment, most people recover from depression.
Prevalence of depression and anxiety in older people
While the precise rates of depression and anxiety in older people are not yet known, a recent study commissioned by beyondblue suggests between 10-15% of older people living in the community experience depression symptoms and approximately 10% experience anxiety. Rates of depression in residential aged care facilities are thought to be much higher, with a recent Australian study showing 34.7% of aged care residents suffering from depression.
However, further research is needed to better understand the exact prevalence of depression and anxiety in older people, including in specific population groups such as people of different cultural and linguistic background, and older Indigenous people.
Programs and projects
beyond maturityblues - peer education program with COTA
beyondblue is working with Council on the Ageing (COTA) across Australia to raise awareness of depression in older people and where to get help - through a peer-education program called beyond maturityblues. View more details and to find out how to book a free session.
Over B... Eighty! campaign
We have had a fantastic response to our Over Bl**dy Eighty! Campaign, which commenced in 2009 when we invited people 80 years and older to share their tips on what keeps them healthy and happy. We received many inspiring and remarkable stories from OBEs across Australia, proving age is no barrier to a healthy and active lifestyle. To help share these stories with the broader community, beyondblue produced a publication based on a collection of the stories we received. We thank all our OBEs and look forward to sharing more stories in the coming year. Read more about the Over Bl**dy Eighty! Campaign and find out how to order a free copy of the booklet.
Depression awareness in Bowls - community program
beyondblue has joined forces with Bowls organsiations to help raise awareness of depression and anxiety within the bowling community. Lawn bowls offers opportunities for exercise and social connectedness - factors that are known to help protect against depression in late life. Read more about the bowls program...
blueVoices older person's reference group
We invite people with personal experience of depression or anxiety, or people who are carers, family members or friends of someone who has experienced depression or anxiety, to join our national reference group. Read more about blueVoices...
beyondblue info line
For the cost of a local call, the beyondblue info line provides callers with access to information and referral to relevant services for depression and anxiety related matters. The beyondblue info line number is: 1300 22 4636.
Don't Beat About the Bush! - beyondblue's National Drought Campaign
In response to the tough times country people are experiencing, beyondblue is working with a range of government and non-government agencies to launch a special National Drought Campaign. The Don't beat about the bush! Campaign aims to increase awareness of depression, show people where they can get help and provide mental health support for communities. Read more about Don't Beat About the Bush!...
Taking care of yourself after retrenchment or financial loss
beyondblue has developed information and a booklet to help those affected by the current economic downturn. It contains practical tips to assist people and includes details about where to get help. Read more and download the book...
Information and resources
For a full list of beyondblue information materials, or to order or download materials, please see the Get Information section.
News and media
Latest news
beyondblue supports NT Seniors Month and Queensland Seniors Week
beyondblue is pleased to support Seniors events in the NT throughout August and Queensland between August 14 and 22. Free beyondblue materials will be disseminated at key events, including our latest publication Our Stories featuring inspiring stories from people who are OBE - Over Bl***dy Eighty! Details of Seniors' events in the NT can be found here and Queensland events can be found here.
More news
Latest research
A full list of beyondblue-funded research projects focusing on depression and older people can be found by searching our Research section (tick 'Elderly' in the Populations section).
NEW!! - Depression in older age: A scoping study, Final Report September 2009
This study was conducted by the National Ageing Research Institute and funded by beyondblue.
45 and UP Study - Research to improve health and wellbeing - Investigators: Sax Institute for Health Research, the Cancer Council NSW, the National Heart Foundation NSW division, NSW Health and beyondblue.
Aim: This is the largest cohort study in the southern hemisphere with 250,000 individuals aged 45 and over in New South Wales (NSW). The sample will be followed for at least 10 years. There are 100 research collaborators including many of NSW leading public health researchers. Timeframe: 2006 - 2016.
Beyond Ageing - Investigators: Prof. Helen Christensen. Janine Walker. Australian National University Centre for Mental Health Research
Aim: This is a large research project into depression and the elderly which will examine whether vitamin supplements, exercise and improving knowledge of depression can address depression in older people. Time frame: 2004 - 2011.
A randomised controlled trial of the beyondblue depression training program for professional carer - Investigators: Assoc Prof David Mellor, Dr Tanya Davison, Professor Marita McCabe, Dr Kuruvilla George and Dr Gery Kartantza,s, Deakin University.
Aim: This was the third stage of a project aimed at developing and evaluating a depression-training program for aged care staff; with the final stage aiming to determine whether training in depression leads to an increase in the number of carers making referrals for depression, and an improvement in the accurate detection of depression. Read the final report.
Contact us
For further information about beyondblue's work on depression and older people please contact Sue Gherdovich, phone (03) 9810 6100.
