USC Health Now

Q: Lately, my elderly mother who lives with me has been withdrawn and I’m worried that she is depressed. What are some symptoms of depression to look for and how can I help her?

A. You are right to be concerned about your mother possibly being depressed, says Kathleen Ell, D.S.W., Ernest P. Larson Professor of Health, Ethnicity, and Poverty and professor of social work at the USC School of Social Work. “Being ‘down in the dumps’ or having depression is not a normal part of aging,” she says. “However, depression is not uncommon among older adults, with higher rates among women and those with a medical illness or disability.” Ell says it can be hard to recognize depression in older adults, but common symptoms include loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities, tiredness or lack of usual energy and feeling down or hopeless. The good news is that with medical help, most older adults will get better. “The first step is to see a family doctor who will check to see if a health problem or medication may be causing the changes you have observed,” says Ell. “Your physician may make a formal assessment for depression or may suggest a mental health counselor such as a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist with skill in working with older adults.” She says that either a doctor or mental health expert can successfully treat depression in many older adults through support groups, counseling or antidepressant medication, and can be helpful in advising ways to support these treatments.