Contrary to what many people think, depression is not a normal

part of growing older. Or is it harder to treat in older people. But it is 【M1】_________

often harder to recognize and harder to get patients accept and continue 【M2】_________

with treatment.

“Most people think sadness is a hallmark of depression,” Bruce

said. “Hence more often in older people it’s anhedonia—they’re not 【M3】_________

enjoying life. They’re irritable and cranky.” She added, “Many older

people desperate of the quality of their lives at the end of life. If they 【M4】_________

have a functional ability or serious medical illness, it may make it harder 【M5】_________

to notice depression in older people.”

Family members, friends and medical personnel must take seriously 【M6】_________

when an older person says “Life is not worth live,” “I don’t see any 【M7】_________

point in living,” “I’d be better off dead” or “My family would be better

off if I died,” the experts emphasized.

“Listen carefully, empathize and help the person get evaluated for

treatment or into treatment,” Brown urged. He warned that “depressed

older adults tend to have few symptoms” than younger adults who are 【M8】_________

depressed.

The ideal approach, of course, is to prevent depression in the first

place. Brown recommended that older adults structured their days by 【M9】_________

maintaining a regular cycle and planning activities that “give them

pleasure, purpose and a reason for living.”

He suggested “social activities of any type—joining a book club or

bowling league, going to a senior center or gym, taking courses at a local

college, or hanging on out at the coffee shop. “ 【M10】________

Bruce suggests taking up a new interest like painting or needlework

or volunteering at a place of worship, school or museum. Brown

explains that any activity the person is able to do can help to prevent

depression and silly ideas of killing oneself.

【M7】