DW despondent and feels useless

l7pla1w2

DW used to be a college professor. She still thinks or hopes that faculty or students will come to the house (or, well, she's now in MC) for her advice and guidance. The fact that they don't (she's been retired for 13 years) makes her feel useless and despondent. She sometimes talks about death and doesn't see the point of going on, although she has never taken any action to end her own life.

As I said, she's just recently moved to MC, so some period of adjustment is expected, and she felt useless even before that, when she was still at home.

DW has taken buproprion for many years now. I'm wondering whether there's another med that would help lift her mood. When I visited her this morning at the MCF, it was obviously a bad day, and she was near tears. I was able to cheer her up, fortunately, but it's really painful for me to see her so unhappy.

SDianeL

it is so hard to see them that way. Depression is common in dementia. It could actually be caused by the dementia. If the medication she’s on is no longer helping, I would speak to the doctor at the facility if they have one, if not, a Geriatric Psychiatrist is best to prescribe medications for dementia. Tell the doctor specifically what she’s saying and doing. Here’s a link to explain: https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/depression