Visit a patient today and bring a flowers of hope that may help to break the bleakness of any depression that may be festering. It may not always be evident but some folks in nursing homes may be depressed.

According to  Centers for Disease Control  the diagnosis of depression was higher in nursing homes than in Adult Day Care Centers or retirement residential centers in 2012.

Because older adults may have more health issues which contributes to the likelihood that they will be depressed. If you compound that with the feelings of helplessness and loss of control and it is no wonder that many people in nursing homes get depressed.

In older adults depression often occurs alongside other medical conditions. Depression can even worsen the exiting medical conditions. To add to the madness medications for these medical issues can cause side effects that may affect the persons depression.

Most nursing home facilities recognize this and have a strong activities program. However, visitation from outside folks enhance the existing activity efforts. It is another reason to visit nursing home patients as much as possible.