The patient may be considering suicide and may either discuss it with you or you may get the feeling that she or he is leading up to it, for example by stashing large amounts of pills.

Your loved one may suddenly drink or smoke more than previously.

She or he may lose sleep or in the alternative sleep all day and refuse to get out of bed.

If you notice these kinds of behavior in your loved one, you will need to step forward and help her or him to deal with what apparently is a case of depression. Sometimes a patient may not be aware of the accompanying depression and instead believe that the symptoms are part and parcel of the dementia. This patient will see a dramatic increase in her or his quality of life when the depression is adequately dealt with.

Treatment for the depression must begin with a proper diagnosis. Please remember that only a professional will be able to diagnose this malady, so it is important to have your loved one visit a doctor as soon as possible for an evaluation. Sometimes another illness may be mimicking the symptoms of depression, while other times they might be a very real side effect from one of the medications taken to deal with the patient’s dementia. If it is indeed decided that your loved one suffers from depression, you may to have your loved one visit a psychiatrist. If she or he is elderly, a psychiatrist who specializes in geriatric psychiatry will be your best choice. Treatment will depend on the severity of the depression. If it is mild, then regular visits to the psychiatrist for “talking therapy” may be indicated. For the more severe cases, more frequent therapy and medication may be needed. At other times, the doctor may feel that your loved one will need to receive more outside stimuli from others suffering from similar conditions and will be able to steer you toward support groups who will offer times of socializing as well as activities. Very often a combination of treatment options may be indicated.

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