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Would putting a 92 year old person in a geriatrics psychiatric ward for treatment be cruel?

My Aunt is going to be 92 years old in December and in a very deep depression. She has been taking a anti-depressant for a little over a month and it has not yet helped. I realize that you have to take it slow and cautiously due to age. I would however would have thought that she would have shown a little improvement but, all I have seen is her slipping deeper and deeper into her depression. We had her living with use for almost 4 months but, she felt like she was invading our space. We found a nice assisted living for her with lots of activities daily. She however decided she didn't want to participate and wanted to sit in her room and feel sorry for herself and hope that she would die soon. My husband and I had to hire a caregiver for 40 hours a week so she could stay there. I'm afraid that they will tell us that she will need to be moved to their Alzheimers Unit. Should I try and get some psychiatric treatment? Her problem is depression not Alzheimers. Can we afford it yes. But it would probably put her in a deeper depression. This was a woman that has been very active until she had a terrible fall and was no longer able to live by herself. She had a terrible groin pull and she will more than likely never really get over it. Her doctor today said that she needed 24 hour a day care. If she could get over the depression she would be able to start walking and doing things for herself again and not be a threat to herself. my 2 cents The treatment is to find the correct anti-depressant for her and get her back to feeling like she can live again. There two hospitals in my city have a treatment facility for geriatrics and deep depression. She is not depressed she is in a deep depression. Ava We don't treat her like a child. We have always treated her like an adult. She is in such a deep state of depression that I feel like we are being put in between a rock and a hard place. It is a darned if you do and a darned if you don't. There are very few assisted living facilities that will let people stay in them unless they can do somethings for themselves. In other word I am trying not to have to put her in a nursing home. Katheryn The only medication she was taking was Fosamax. My aunt was a very healthy 91 year old person that had a lot of life left in her. Her depression has nothing to do with other medications.

Public Comments

1. Surely she has a doctor who prescribed the anti-depressant. Talk to him. Some things to consider are: How does she feel about it? How well will she take to a change in people and location. How is her health other than this. Can you afford the Alzheimer unit where she is if you no longer have to hire the 40 hr/ week help. Is Alzheimers her problem? What kind of psychiatric treatment would she get anyhow? What are the chances that the treatment would actually make her better (or worse?) Is this treatment an ongoing thing (would she be living the rest of her life at the psychiatric facility or would you be looking for a place for her afterwards anyhow?) If her problem is Alzheimer, how fast is it progressing, what point is she at now, what point would she be likely to be at with or without the psychiatric help? Please talk to her doctor.
2. How lovely of you to have taken her into your home, it is really too bad that did not work. I would say by all means, she should NOT be moved to an Alzheimer's ward, and any action you choose should be with that in mind. My mom needed to be in an Alzheimer's ward at the very end of her life, and your description of your aunt does not at all match. I would keep working with the doctor who prescribed the antidepressant, or another independent physician to continue looking into any medications that can help. I keep thinking that what she is doing isn't all that unreasonable, and that it's a shame you can't convince her that you really prefer having her with you. Best of luck!
3. At 92 years old. Leave her alone. She is probably depressed because she has to live with some one and chances are y'all are treating her like a child. All of her life she has been the adult and taking care of herself and others. Now all that has changed. No wonder she is depressed. She has every right to be. Y'all just spend lots of time letting her know you love her and that she is NOT a burden you. Don't tell her;show her! Check and make sure the caregiver is treating her good. It is better to be safe then sorry.Anti-depressant medicine takes a time to get in your sysrem and start working right. She may have to have it changed later to make sure they have the right one.She may be OK without it. Give her time.I would not even put her on it.Look at life through her eyes and you will see,a little bit,how she feels.God Bless all of you. I know this is a hard thing that you are going through. You will be in my prayers.
4. I don't think an Alzheimer's unit is the right place for deeply depressed person. If anything, I think this might make her much worse. I think her doctor needs to keep trying to find an anti depressant that might help her. I think you should try to get her an appointment with a psychiatrist. Maybe he/she has would have some idea of how to help her out of this depression.
5. Yes I think that you should get her some psychiatric treatmeant but at the same time have a doctor who specializes in older patients go over her medications. I know senior citizens who people thought were in depressions but it was side affects of their medications. Have someone that really knows how medications affect the elderly go over all of her medications to make sure that they are the right one's for her, that she's being given and is taking the correct dosage and that they aren't interacting with each other. Because she's elderly her liver might not be ridding her body of the extra medicine as effectively as it needs to so that she's not getting a build up of medication in her system. Do this at the same time that you're doing the other things and you might find out that it wasn't a real depression but medication build up. IF it is a real depression than you'll know how to help her to deal with it.
6. Kathryn is right. Medications for depression can sometimes do just the opposite. Depression is real. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain. She's not feeling sorry for herself. She just needs her meds re-evaluated by a specialist.
7. The drugs do take a while to work. Show her a lot of love and do not forget the visits, she may not show it but she really needs them. Also make sure that she does take her medecine. My prayers are with you. She needs to feel like an adult so make sure that she's treated like one, she has a lot of pride.
8. She don't need much anti-depression drug,all she needs is for her to understand that she is so welcomed to your home(your family) and not a burden.like in the activity thing you mentioned,try to be involve in it, to let her know that she is being wanted and loved by all.Most weekend hang out with her and the kids or the whole family if there is chance (like a pick nick,zoo,park or try to take her to visit her friends and have the ladies thing (you know) or visit other older ladies and play poker).you might learn a thing or two from them too. Basic thing make her feel welcome and loved.
9. Does your aunt have dementia? How clear is her mind at this point? If she has Alzheimer's and it is severe (you would know because she would not be living in reality, and her short term memory would be totally gone), an inpatient mental health unit would be more difficult than for other geriatric patients due to causing disorientation, confusion, and agitation. However, if her dementia (some is clearly normal at her age), is mild, then she may benefit from a good evaluation on a unit where she can be monitored, while they either work with her current antidepressant and adjusting the dosage and/or add another type of med. My mother is in an assisted living facility and has been there for over two years. She is at a good facility, and does have friends there, and participates in activities. She, like your aunt was very active and independent until she had a fall and stroke in 2004. Her whole world got turned upside down, as did our families, but in my heart I know she is in the best place for her. If you care to speak privately about this issue I am willing to do so.
10. Depression is a sun of a Bitch! I too have been through all of the medications doctors have given me when I was diagnosed with Bipolar depression. First off let me say that I am sorry that she is going through this and I give you a lot of credit for being there for her. I ,on the other hand I was sent to phyciatric wards over and over and was deeply medicaticated. My ex husband couldn't handle me so he decided that my depression wasn't good for the kids and more than he could handle. so he devorced me and took my children from me. I am now medication free and I rely on God to give me the strength to live each day. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. I will pray for you and your family. I understand how she feels! I too wanted to end my life and I know that it's not the answer. I still go through some depression from time to time but when I pray and ask God to remove all the depression and believe that God can do it and surrender to him, I know it is done! . God is a very loving God and the depression she is suffering from is no joke! Please don't put her away. This will only make things worse. she needs to have family around her and she needs to talk about how she feels. a nice walk or maybe giving her a task to do will definitly make her feel like she is needed. I am not saying that medication isn't the answer. but what people don't understand is that it could take years to find the right medication that works for her and the side effects are something to concider! Especially with her age. God is my medicine and I get a dose of him every day. That's my cure for my depression. I keep busy, and have a job, concidering that I did stay home and raise my children for thirteen years and pray that God brings my children back to me. I live each day knowing what he has done for me . Long story! In the end of it all...............God is the answer! Take her to church where she can find some friends who will listen and pray with her and not judge her........................Hope I could help in some way..........I will be praying for her.......................(sunshine)
11. Don't think one month is long enough for the antidepressant to work. Perhaps another antidepressant should be tried. How about an animal - espec. a cat? Something for her to take care of easily (a loveable, cozy, purring, snuggling cat). Definitely get an appointment for her with (try a licensed social worker). Someone to listen and suggest. This could be done in conjunction with above. If your aunt has Alzheimer's that is an entirely different set of problems