Is Dad Depressed or Showing Signs of Dementia? This Father’s Day, Families May Realize That Dad Needs Help

Is Dad Depressed or Showing Signs of Dementia?

This Father’s Day, Families May Realize That Dad Needs Help

(June 2014) – When visiting Dad this Father's Day, you may want to evaluate more than his golf swing; you should consider his mood. Thousands of families will be calling on Dad to find that he is just not himself. His speech maybe slower, he may not be eating as well and he could be sleeping a little too much. He’s lost his spark. The question is - is Dad depressed, or perhaps even showing signs of dementia?

This Father’s Day, SYNERGY HomeCare, one of the nation’s largest non-medical in-home care franchise organizations, is raising awareness about the difference between depression and dementia, while offering a solution for families.

Many SYNERGY HomeCare Caregivers have received training in basic dementia care, and they can assist with providing feedback based on their observations of the classic signs of dementia vs. depression. In many cases, dads are the last to ask for help, so it’s up to the adult children to speak up.

“Adult children should take their parent's unusual symptoms and/or changes in mood seriously. It may take the initiative of a son or daughter to get help for Dad, but the results are typically well worth the effort,” says Richard Basch, President of SYNERGY HomeCare. “Whether you’re coping with depression or dementia, hiring a SYNERGY HomeCare Caregiver can provide Dad with the help and care he needs. It really is one of the greatest gifts a dad can receive on Father’s Day.” 

DEPRESSION vs. DEMENTIA

10 Warning Signs of Depression:

1. Feelings of hopelessness, guilt
2. Feeling worthless
3. Irritability, restlessness
4. No longer interested in activities or hobbies they used to enjoy
5. Fatigue and decreased energy
6. Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
7. Insomnia, waking early in the morning or excessive sleeping
8. Overeating or loss of appetite
9. Thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts
10. Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not get better even with treatment

10 Warning Signs of Dementia: 

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2. Difficulty planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images
6. Developing new problems with words while speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things – trouble re-tracing steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10.  Changes in mood and personality

“We want to raise awareness about these two issues so families are prepared to address any concerns that may arise this Father’s Day,” says Basch. “The conversations you have this Father's Day may ensure that your father will still be with you for many Father’s Days to come.”

Share this story with a local family who hired a Caregiver to help their aging dad. Interview local depression/dementia experts who can help decide if Dad needs help.

Fast Facts:

• Late life depression affects nearly 6 million Americans age 65 and older, but only one in 10 receives treatment. Factors that include the risk of elderly depression include living alone, unmarried or widowed, certain medications or chronic pain or illness.
• People often delay depression treatment because they fear they have dementia.
• Nearly 20 percent of adults, age 65 and older in America, have experienced depression at some point in their lives.
• A recent study in the Journal of Neurology revealed that depression may increase the risk of dementia.