Getting Through Depression in Your Senior Years - Guest BLOG
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This is a guest blog by Teresa Greenhill at mentalheathforseniors.com
Part of the human existence is the ebb and flow of our mental health. We have good days and bad days, and we have good years and bad years. Some of it is circumstantial, and some of it is clinical. For those who suffer from clinical depression, a solution isn’t always easy to find; you can’t simply snap your fingers and make it go away. If you’re a senior suffering from depression, it’s important to get the help that you need so you can successfully manage this condition. Everyone’s situation is unique, and a proper diagnosis should be pursued to come up with the right treatment plan.
Mental Health Overview
Mental Health encompasses your emotional, mental, and social well-being. Positive and negative mental health can vary in degree of seriousness, from something as temporary as a bad day to a mental health disorder that requires treatment. Mood disorders (bipolar), anxiety disorders (OCD), personality disorders (borderline), behavioral disorders (ADHD), psychotic disorders (schizophrenia), trauma disorders (PTSD), and eating disorders are all issues that fall into this realm. For many people who suffer from mental health issues, it could be something as common as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and stress.
Depression in Seniors
Commonly seen among seniors, depression is a clinical mood disorder that affects how you function in life; for example, life changes could lead to clinical depression in seniors. For some seniors, it starts with losing loved ones, transitioning from a career to retirement, giving up independence and mobility, watching children grow up and move on, feeling lonely and socially isolated, and losing a sense of purpose. Those circumstances can develop into clinical depression. Be sure to pay attention to signs such as sleep and appetite changes, irritability, decreased energy, anxiousness, guilt, hopelessness, emptiness, concentration problems, and suicidal thoughts.
Treatment for Depression
If you’re noticing symptoms of depression in yourself or someone you love, it’s best to seek professional treatment from a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. A mental health provider will be able to diagnose you, provide counseling, and recommend therapy and/or medication to help treat the issue. Therapeutic treatment could include individual and group counseling, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Mental Health Insurance Through Medicare
Medicare Part B will cover mental health services provided by a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or clinical social worker in the Medicare network. Family counseling related to your treatment and outpatient substance abuse treatment also falls under Medicare coverage. For hospitalizations, Part A can help cover the hospital stay up to 190 days, while Part B covers the doctor fees. Your out-of-pocket expenses for these services typically include 20 percent co-pay, co-insurance, and deductibles. Make sure you have the right coverage for your anticipated needs as you review your annual plan.
Medicare for Depression
Part B covers an annual depression screening at your PCP’s office and a preventive visit to see if you’re at risk. These visits usually occur at no cost to the patient.
Finding the Right Help
Not all mental health providers are covered by Medicare, so it’s important to make sure the provider accepts assignment. Accepting assignment means that the provider allows Medicare to pay them directly for the agreed upon coverage amount, and the patient is only billed for the deductible and coinsurance. To get the most out of Medicare for your mental health needs, search for a therapist who accepts Medicare. Discuss pricing and billing with them before signing up to be a patient.
Depression is not the end of anything — it’s simply the beginning of a new way of living and coping. Those moments of extreme sadness, hopelessness, and feeling trapped don’t have to take over your golden years. With the right diagnosis and treatment, you’ll soon find relief for your mental health.
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