75yo GM lives with me and is still depressed after being on meds for six months.she is in complete denial of depression. what's next?? GF passed March 2009. GM moved across the country to live with me and my spouse. When GF passed, she was already depressed but we didnt know. 85% blind for 5 years or so, broke a hip, uses a walker but still timid in walking.Pt has done work at house.She has seen neurologist, internal med. specialist, pt, soc. worker, home health .Daily incontinence issues in last 9 months have not helped. Goes through varying periods of apathy, confusion, not wanting to eat (we give ensure), not getting up to use the bathroom when she knows she is wet.When she goes to the doc, sometimes he can tell she is depressed, other times she acts like she is fine and says she is happy- like we are making it up. I just don't know what to do next. This can't be all she can look forward to. I offer to take her out daily and get her out about 1-2 times a week now. No other family around. She says she does not want to go to senior center or be active with other seniors- she just wants to "rest". Suggestions??
I would love to get her to go to church and other places, but she really never has been a "social" person. She always did a lot of activities alone. She used to love to read, do crossword puzzles, garden, go shopping everyday, etc. but never really had that she shared this with. She also used to forget to eat (and faint from it!) and sleep at all hours of the day and night- she is a complete night owl. Having these habits prior to even getting into her 60's has set up her to continue them. I feel like there were lots of things stacked against us when she moved in already, and we have honestly made huge dent in that- we are just over-acheivers (-:
We do include her in cooking, house chores, etc.- she just has a hard time enjoying things. For the past three days she has been SOOO WONDERFUL!!! I have had her talk to everyone in my family on the phone- its like she is 20 years younger! Right now though, since this morning, it has been in bed all day. 3 days up, 5 days or so down- it's like she is exhausted from coming to life for those 3 days. We are starting to write down more to see if we can see a real pattern.
Anyway, I'm babbling. Thank you all so much- we are working on it all!! Bless you all!!
I love the idea about recourding there memories and stuff. I wish I had the chance to do that with my mother. But she no longer has all of her wits.