Last Updated: March 5, 2026
Depression in later life should be treated the same as depression at any other stage of life. Here, we explore the symptoms to look out for and treatment options for depression in elderly people.
Many people experience depression as they go through life. For some, a lifechanging event can bring on depression suddenly; for others, it can be a slow creep of negative thoughts or feelings impacting day-to-day life.
Older people are not exempt from experiencing depression. Indeed, the impact of getting older on mobility and independence alone can be a contributing factor to depression. But it is often not thought of as something that affects people in their later life. This assumption is worrying, as one study found that around 6.8% of people aged 65 and over were experiencing depression.
Risk Factors for Depression in Old Age
Depression in older adults can come as a result of any of life’s stressors, but it’s important to know what to look out for as common causes. Physical illness and medication side effects can impact on a person’s quality of life, as can cognitive decline.
As we age, we may also be more likely to lose people who are close to us. Grieving a spouse, partner, or friends can have a huge impact on a person’s mental health and it shouldn’t be underestimated. This shrinking of social circles can also lead or contribute to feelings of isolation, and we know that there is a link between loneliness and depression in later life.
Recognising Symptoms: What Depression Looks Like in Older Adults
If you are worried about yourself or want to know how to help an elderly person with depression, you first need to know what to look for in terms of symptoms.
Depression symptoms you might notice include:
- A consistent low mood, including feelings of sadness or anxiety
- Decreased energy
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling irritable or restless
However, there are also some signs of depression in the elderly that might be harder to notice or to distinguish from ‘getting older’. These are:
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- Lack of interest in activities
- Feeling more aches and pains
- Not keeping up with housework or personal care
If these symptoms sound familiar, it might be time to reach out for help.
Treatment Options
While depression used to be a bit of a taboo subject, it is now widely recognised as a health condition and there are several treatment options for depression in later life in the UK.
For those who want to pursue a medicinal approach to treating their depression, antidepressants are generally a safe option. In fact, the use of antidepressant medication in those aged 65 and over is on the rise. These drugs can provide relief from the symptoms of depression, though you should speak to your GP before making any decisions as they might not be appropriate for everyone.
Counselling is often paired with antidepressants to help treat the underlying cause of the depression. These talking therapies aim to give people coping mechanisms and an outlet to talk about any difficulties they are facing in their lives.
It’s usually recommended to make lifestyle changes at the same time as undergoing treatment for depression, for example you might be told to find a safe way to exercise or join a group or activity to get out and speak to other people.
Prevention Strategies and Self-Help
Prevention of depression in old age is another option if you feel that you are starting to notice one or two mild symptoms – or if you are just concerned about developing depression in later life.
The important things to look at are:
- Keeping social relationships going and engaging in face-to-face connections
- Maintaining a healthy amount of physical activity, often getting outside each day is enough
- Finding ways to manage grief
- Making sure you are attending regular health checks and making changes as necessary to keep illness at bay
How Family, Carers & Health Professionals Can Help
If you are caring for someone with later life depression, you might be looking for ways you or a health professional can help them to feel better. If you haven’t already, you could try to gently encourage them to speak to a GP about how they are feeling. Many older people feel a stigma around talking about their mental health so focusing on the symptoms rather than emotions here might be useful.
Be patient and try to understand that they might not think that what they are experiencing is depression, that they might say things like, ‘We don’t have that in our family’ or might appear resistant to try treatment even if a GP has prescribed something to help improve their mood. Unless you have power of attorney over their medical decisions, the best you can do is try to help.
Resources & Support in the UK
A good place to start when looking for support with depression in later life is the NHS. You can self-refer without speaking to your GP if you wish; find out how to do this on the NHS website.
Whilst it can sometimes be a long wait to get help from the NHS, there are places you can go to for support with your mental health in the meantime. Charities and helplines exist to support people experiencing depression. The Silver Line helpline is run by Age UK and was set up by Dame Esther Rantzen specifically to help older people with depression or loneliness. Call 0800 4 70 80 90.
The Samaritans and MIND also offer helplines, the numbers for which can be found below.
Samaritans
Tel: 116 123
MIND
Tel: 0300 102 1234
You can also find local support on our useful contacts page.
Conclusion
While depression at any stage of life is possible, it’s vital to address it no matter how old you are. Older people deserve treatment so that they can live the rest of their lives happily. Although it can be hard to take that first step to admit there might be a problem and find help with depression in later life, age should not be a factor in the decision.
If you are in crisis and need urgent help now, please go to A&E where there is always someone who can help with mental health issues, or call NHS 111. If you or someone else is in immediate danger and you can’t get to A&E, dial 999.
