Older adults with a disability are at a higher risk of depression than older adults without a disability. Depression is a treatable medical condition that often goes untreated in older adults because:
- People do not seek treatment because they think that depression is a normal part of aging or a natural reaction to losses that might happen as we age. Fortunately, depression is not a normal part of aging with a disability. In fact, most older adults adjust well to aging and are not depressed.
- People may not want to admit that they are depressed because they feel embarrassed or ashamed. Depression is not a sign of weakness or a character flaw.