Depression is a major concern among the elderly, both among individuals who receive at-home eldercare and those who reside within assisted living facilities. Recently, researchers sought to determine if incorporating a physical exercise routine into these individuals' lives could be an effective means of intervention against this issue – as it has been shown to be among other age groups.
However, according to reports, a team of British researchers has recently revealed that implementing exercise sessions in assisted living communities did not prove effective in diminishing depression rates on its own. Though aerobic programs, which were conducted twice a week over the course of a year in 78 residences across the United Kingdom, were "well-received" by community members, ScienceDaily states, the scientists did not discover a substantial shift in depression rates or quality-of-life assessments among participants.
"We already know that antidepressants are effective for more severely depressed patients, while preventive strategies such as increased social engagement and psychological stimulation are promising but as yet unproven," said Martin Underwood, a professor at the University of Warwick, in a press release. "New approaches are clearly needed to address the major burden of depression in this most needy population."
Though elderly depression is a complex issue, social isolation is well-known to contribute to its prevalence, and lead to a number of other serious medical issues. In 2012, the Journal of Primary Prevention published a review of social isolation, and argued that care managers and other professionals most focus as much on the social well-being of their recipients as on their physical state, since the two are inexorably intertwined.
Independa's technology-enabled eldercare solutions were expressly developed to help care managers address the issue of social isolation, among the other challenges these professionals routinely face. With our Angela interface, residents and home-based care recipients can remain connected with their loved ones through video chat, email and Facebook via their LG televisions. This eldercare software also includes games that offer mental stimulation.
In addition, care managers can utilize our Caregiver Web App to reach out directly to these individuals for the purposes of remote monitoring, and to include them in any social events at their facilities through calendars and reminders.
There is no quick fix to combat elderly depression, but by incorporating preventative strategies via Independa's comprehensive eldercare offerings, care professionals may be able to offset the risk of its development. To learn more about how our eldercare solutions can address social isolation and other pressing industry concerns, contact us through our online form today.
