Tulsa Counseling Services for Seniors with Depression

Depression in the Elderly, Counseling Services Available in Broken Arrow for Tulsa Residents

By Alina Morrow, LPC-S, CAMS II, GC, CCTP

Disclaimer: The article below is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct advice, a personal diagnosis, or as an individual treatment plan. Always consult with a mental health professional or medical doctor if you have concerns.

Introduction and Overview

Depression among senior citizens is a more common problem then people might think. Statistics show that approximately 6 million Americans age 65 and older suffer from depression. Among them, only 10 percent receive proper treatment. Unfortunately, late-life depression is usually confused with the effects of the multiple illnesses associated with this age and the medication used for their treatment, or it is considered normal among elders. However, it must be emphasized that depression is NOT a part of the normal aging process.

Growing old can offer many advantages such as becoming more wise, patient and content with the life, but it can also be the cause of several disadvantages. The body slows down which leads to a decline in energy levels and efficiency, an increased risk for medical problems, declining ability to live life as one used to, and in some cases, the loss of independence. Getting older also means retirement, losing social networks, decrease in income, family members, and relocating or changing residences - all of which can lead to depression. Left undiagnosed or treated, depression can cause emotional pain for elders and their families.

Depression in seniors does not have to be confused with temporary down moods, sad feelings, and lethargy caused by disturbing or upsetting events. Depression is characterized by a persistent down mood that does not improve over time and interferes with the normal functions and activities.

Symptoms of Depression in Elderly

The symptoms of depression in the elderly often include:

Agitation, anxiety, and irritability.
Sadness, lack of good mood, and inability to laugh.
Lack of interest or incapacity to feel pleasure in normal activities that were pleasant in the past.
Persistent, vague or unexplained physical complaints.
Appetite and weight changes (overeating, weight loss or gain).
Sleep disturbance such as daytime sleepiness, difficulties falling asleep, multiple mid-night awakenings or early morning awakening.
Lack of energy and increased fatigue.
Discouragement, hopelessness, and feelings of worthlessness.
Excessive or inappropriate guilt.
Memory problems and difficulties concentrating.
Social withdrawal and isolation.
Negligence about personal care.
Confusion, delusions, or hallucinations.
Prolong grief after a loss.
Suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Depression in seniors can have multiple causes, which include:

1. Psychological Factors:

Unresolved or repressed traumatic events or experiences from childhood or late life.
Previous history of depression.
Body image problems caused by amputations, cancer surgery, or heart attack.
Fear of death.
Frustration caused by memory loss.
Difficulties adjusting with challenging situations or conditions such as the loss of family members or close friends, loss of independency, or changes in housing and living conditions.
Certain personality traits such as low self-esteem, extreme level of dependency on others, pessimism.

2. Environmental Factors:

Loss of one's social network, family members and friends.
Retirement (due to the adjusting process caused by the new role and routine).
Social or physical isolation.
Decreased mobility as a result of a medical condition or losing the driving privileges.

3. Physical Factors:

An inherited tendency toward depression.
Suffering from certain medical conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes and stroke.
Certain medication such as: pain medication (codeine or darvon), high blood pressure drugs (clonidine or reserpine), hormones (estrogen, progesterone, cortical, prednisone, anabolic steroids), heart medication ( digitalis or propagator), chemotherapy agents (cycloserine, tamoxifen, nolvadex, velban, oncoming), Parkinson’s disease drugs (levadopa or bromocriptine), arthritis drugs (indomethacin), tranquilizers or ant anxiety drugs (valium or halcion).
Neurotransmitters’ imbalance.
Vascular changes in the brain.
Chronic or severe pain.
Substance abuse (alcohol).

Depression, if not diagnosed or treated, decreases the person’s quality of life and could lead to fatal consequences such as suicide or non-suicide mortality. Statistics show that the highest rate of suicide in USA is among older, white men, and the main cause is untreated depression.

Depression substantially increases the risk for death in those that suffer from medical conditions or physical illnesses. It can increase the impairment resulted from the medical problem by stopping the improvement progress and can interfere with person’s ability to follow a recovery plan and the necessary treatment.

Related Information:

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Are you suffereing from depression? Contact Tulsa Therapist Alina Morrow, LPC-S, today to make an appointment and get the help and relief you deserve. You can reach me by texting or calling 918-403-8873 or by Email.

Page Last Updated: July 24, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does it cost per session?
A. My price is $150 for a 50-minute session.

Q. Who can come to counseling?
A. Anyone who wants guidance to improve their quality of life.

Q. What are the office hours?
A. Monday thru Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Q. How soon can you see us/me?
A. I can usually schedule you the week that you call.

Q. What do I need to do to make an appointment?
A. You can call, text or email me with the day and time you prefer, and we can go from there. PLEASE NOTE: A debit or credit card is required to reserve an appointment. The card has to be provided at the time you schedule your first appointment.

Q. What office policies do I need to be aware of prior to making an appointment?
A. All the clients that schedule appointments with me will be informed about the Making/Cancelling or Rescheduling Appointments Policy. This policy is included in the first appointment forms and is discussed with every client at the beginning of our work together. This policy states that each client will receive a text reminder 2 days (48 hours) prior to their scheduled appointment. The client is required to respond back by confirming, cancelling or rescheduling the appointment the lastet by 8pm the day I send the reminder. If the client fails to respond back, it will be assumed they cancelled the appointment without further notice and they become financially responsible for the booked appointment. Please know that at 8pm the appointment becomes available to other clients, and it is no longer yours.

Q. What is the role of the Making/Cancelling and Rescheduling Appointments Policy?
A. This policy helps me provide equal access to services to all clients (existent or new clients). Each time a client makes an appointment the allocated time is dedicated just to them; therefore, no one else has access to that appointment. This allows me to keep my schedule organized and coordinate the care of each client I have, as well as allocating the rest of the scheduling hours to others that are in need of services. When a client does not respond to my reminder, they directly affect several people. My schedule is affected, and other clients are prevented from having access to appointments. Please understand that mental health services also involve emergency or highly critical situations where clients need to receive services as soon as possible. If you (the client) do not respond to let me know the status of your appointment, I am not able to coordinate the care for other clients and attend to their needs. Clients that need services but cannot be scheduled are put on a waiting list. This is the reason I ask a confirmation by 8pm the day I send the reminder. After 8pm, the clients on the waiting list are contacted and the available appointments are offered to them. Usually the time span between the moment I send the appointment reminder and the latest time I accept confirmations or cancellation is usually 10 to 12 hours. I send the reminders in the first part of the morning (between 8 and 10 am). By not responding to my reminder in that time frame, you (the client) keep an appointment blocked and others will not have access to services. Therefore, you (the client) become financially responsible for making an appointment and not taking responsibility for it or disregarding the needs of others. Please understand that I cannot discriminate against clients. Since this is a policy all the clients abide by when they start counseling with me, I cannot differentiate between clients and make exceptions.