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Activities for relieving mild depression

The prevalence of depression in frail elderly persons living in assisted living is approximately 25% -- and perhaps higher in the home-bound population. The vast majority of those with depression are experiencing a milder form of depression. All people with depressive symptoms need medical care and treatment. When depression is mild and when the people will not seek help from mental health providers, these alternative forms of treatment or special activities may be helpful. These special activities impact on some of the underlying reasons for depression in elderly persons such as loneliness, losses of all kinds especially of health and functioning and lack of pleasurable activities each day. People who are not trained as mental health specialists can do all of the special activities discussed here.

• Relaxing and can help clear a person’s mind so he/she can work through problems.
• Creative outlet for expression of sad and empty feeling.
• Relive positive experiences and bring forgotten meaning to current life.
• Distractor from worries, disturbing thoughts or physical discomforts.

• You can conduct your own music therapy session by spending time with your loved one listening to music, discussing it or drawing/painting while listening to the music.
• Bring your loved one to a small live musical performance conducted by children or in a park.
• Quiet music at bedtime may aid sleeping.
• Use music to aid exercise sessions or physical therapy.
• Dance or move slowly to the music with your loved one

• Relieve loneliness and isolation.
• Provide new and continued life meaning.
• Rekindle new interests.
• Stimulate resident to be more interested in his/her own personal care and feeding

• Ask a young neighbor to regularly bring over a small pet, such as a cat, dog or rabbit.
• Pet visitation programs in residential facilities.

• Refocuses your loved one to "living things" and "new growth" rather than "sick and old".
• Sense if personal pride in creating something beautiful or edible.
• For many, a continuation of an enjoyable lifetime interest.
• Stimulus for related activities such as dried flowers, bird watching or cooking.

• Raised plant beds and growing seedlings under fluorescent lights.
• Creating a Garden Club with neighbors or friends.

• More acceptable and less anxiety producing substitute for psychotherapy.
• Facilitates expression of all ranges of feelings.
• Provides socialization opportunities.

• Group pantomime, acting out sections of plays or doing charades.
• Using pictures or paintings to stimulate acting out moods and personalities of characters seen in the pictures.
• Role play a person that is admired.
• Attending plays or viewing drama/humor on video and discussing portions.

• Using selected readings (short stories and poetry) to stimulate discussion of feelings and ideas that might be repressed.
• Can meet the needs of small groups and individuals.

Reminiscence for Depression Treatment

• Recalling and remembering past events, experiences, people and places has therapeutic value.
• Coping better with aging and death.
• Sharing your recollections with others who will listen increases self-worth, either current or past.
• Collect an oral history for children and grandchildren.

more: Team Approach to Treating Depression in Elderly Effective

 continue to: How to Survive Living With A Depressed Person

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Reviewed: 03/2006