My mum (90) who has always been interested in literature and tv and newspapers has fallen into a period of total lack of interest in anything.  She had a stroke two years ago but recovered almost completely and is in general good health.  I visit every day and she is part of a wider family who see her regularly and yet she finds it very hard to maintain converstaion or show much interest in the conversations of others.  It is such a shame as i used to find her immersed in a book of newspaper, now she sits and thinks.  She takes a mild anti depressant and the doctor said that she did not want to increase the dose and has offered no other advice.

Has anyone experienced similar problems/

Thamks

hi

why did the doctor  not want to increase the dosge of ntidepressants?

just out of interest does your mum have glasses, is her eyesight ok?? maybe she doesnt want to say she is struggling to see things. just a thought!

Total lack of interest and lack of concentration are definate signs of depression.

Would Talking books or audio tapes help her. the library have these to rent out free of charge. she might really enjoy them.

Hope this helps

Becks

Becks

Thanks for this, i think you may well be right regarding eye sight, she only has one fuctioning eye and although it is in good condition, i think she is finding reading tiring.  Audio books are an excellent idea and i will get onto that, why did i not think of it!

I am going to chase the doctor up or ask for a second opinion, i know little about anti depressants but i am sure that modifications can be made to dosage and type of medication.

Many thanks for your thoughts, - much appreciated.

DP

You could give her an iPod as a present, together with a subscription to Audible.co.uk.

My daughter said to me 'You need an iPod'. I asked her why, I haven't needed one these many years.  But since I got one I really don't know what I'd have done without it.  You get books downloaded on to it and it's small and portable. At present I'm going through the Patrick O'Brian novels about the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. 

If she can't download them from Audible, you could always do it for her.  You can also download radio programmes as podcasts. I listen to mine in bed, whereas at one time I would read a book before going to sleep, now I listen instead.

On the other hand, why shouldn't a 90-year old lady just 'sit and think'? I'm sure she has a lot to think about.  Sometimes I can hardly bear to look at the daily news, it's depressing in itself! And often, things are not working out the way we thought they would, when we were younger.