Depression in society is s subject that must be looked at, as it is a major problem among all age groups. However, it is even more important that depression among the elderly (those above 65) be studied. Reasons for this range as nearly 25% of the elderly are depressed, or have begun to develop depressive symptoms (Soldz, 2003) Also, as the baby boomers begin to grow old, the percentage of those above the age of 65 is increasing steadily. Since 1960, the percentage of those over 65 has nearly doubled in Canada, from 7.6% to approximately 12.2% (Schmid, 2003). Since this is so, nearly 1 million Canadians over the age of 65 are depressed. With this extreme amount of depressive elderly, the impact that they have on those around them is something of an important matter. The impact of depression in the elderly must be looked at in turns of the family and its functions. The depression of the elderly impacts the family through the sexual function, the economic function, which relates to the financial stability of the family, the emotional function and how supportive and stable the family is, and finally the socialization function of the family.

Depression in the elderly is something that has a very large effect on the family and some of its 5 functions. Economically the family is effected negatively as there a large loss associated with depression amongst the elderly as they must pay for health care etc. Emotionally the effect goes both ways, it may go positively or negatively depending on the situation and the results of the treatment on the patient. Socially, the idea of socialization takes a turn for the worse when an elderly member of the family is depressed. The impact on both the children and the relatives of the depressed member is very negative as they must learn to cope with this member being depressed until they are cured. Finally, the family function of sexuality is also affected in a major way. There is a lack of everything having to do with sexual behavior and the sexual function of the family. With all four of these functions being affected, that is the way in which the depression of an elderly member can impact the family.

The emotional impact of depression of an elderly member on the family has one of the most sabotaging effects on the family, but, it will be discussed further on that it can also help the family emotionally. Depression in itself is an emotional difficulty, so that in itself explains how emotionally there can be some problems in the family. The economic function of the family is to provide psychological support for each individual member. But, with one member of the family being depressed, the effects are as follows. Firstly, by being depressed it is often that they isolate themselves from everyone else. This causes the depressed one’s partner to feel a sense of not being wanted/needed as the depressed is no longer outgoing or emotionally available (Pinsky, 2003). Since the person depressed is also of old age, the loss of emotional function of the family ranges to the elderly person’s family, as they must now try and provide emotional support for them. Since they are pushing their support in that direction, there families will be losing emotional support as there is only so much that can be provided (Pinsky, 2003). Although these effects are negative, there are some that may have positive outcomes on the emotional function of the family. If the family provides good emotional support for the elderly who are depressed, then the bonds between them have a possibility of becoming stronger. They will have a sense of completion if they defeat the depression of the elderly member. But also with this, if they fail in getting rid of the depression then more de

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