Aging in America Blog #2

Wild Card Blog Entry

I think one of the major issues facing the elderly today is depression. I have already mentioned that I live in a pseudo retirement community so most of my blogs will probably center around what I observe in my neighborhood. When I think about seniors and depression the first thing that comes to mind is my neighbor Mrs. A. She is probably the happiest neighbor I have. She lives alone, is a widow and has no children, all predecessors of depression. So why is she so happy?

Mrs. A. must walk at least 5 miles a day around our medium-sized neighborhood with her dog, Toto. Certainly Toto doesn't need to be walked that much, but it's almost obvious that she walks him so often because she enjoys being outside and chatting with neighbors. Every time I see Mrs. A. we take the time to say hello and ask how each other are doing. She usually asks how my dog is doing and I comment about how much I love Toto (I think it's absolutely adorable that he barks incessantly ONLY at vehicles that are running; never at people, parked cars, other dogs or even cats).

Studies show that depression occurs in about 15 percent of those over the age of 65 and that 1/4 of all suicides are committed by the elderly. I did not know these statistics before I decided to write about this subject. Suddenly, the elderly neighbor that stops me to chat about the weather while I'm hurriedly checking my mail doesn't seem like such an inconvenience anymore.

Having lived in this neighborhood during my "formative" years, I have come to view many of my neighbors as my surrogate grandparents and I know some of them view me as a grandchild. Mr. B. jokingly asks me every few months what my new major is (I've changed it about 6 times) and when he notices the lack of my latest boyfriends vehicle in my driveway he always gives me the more-fish-in-the-sea speech.

I know forming even casual relationships with neighbors certainly won't cure depression in the elderly but maybe it's a start. Maybe that's why so many of my elderly neighbors walk their dogs far more than any dog truly needs to be walked.