Mistaking depression for normal ageing

Unexplained aches, persistent fatigue and social withdrawal could point to struggling mental health, says psychiatrist Lim Wei Shyan

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If your elderly parent seems more forgetful, withdrawn or unusually tired, it may not just be age catching up with them.

These could be early signs of depression - an often overlooked or misunderstood condition in older adults.

Many seniors keep their struggles to themselves because they think their feelings are not serious enough or they do not want to worry their children. Unaddressed depression in older adults can worsen their health, deepen their isolation and raise the risk of early death, says Dr Lim Wei Shyan, psychiatrist at Mount Alvernia Hospital. Here, he shares how to spot the signs and support a loved one in seeking help.

What signs of depression in the elderly are often misinterpreted as normal ageing?