Frailty, a condition that affects 10 percent of people aged 65 and older, can make older adults more prone to disability, falls, hospitalization and a shorter lifespan. Recently, researchers writing in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society examined the effects of frailty and depression on married couples. Although we know much about the effects of frailty and depression on individuals, up until now, little has been uncovered about how these two conditions may be connected within couples.
The researchers learned that the frailer an older person is, the more likely it is that he or she will become depressed. The more depressed an older person is, the more likely he or she is to become frail.
What's more, the researchers also learned that people married to a frail spouse were likely to become frail themselves, and that people married to a depressed spouse were more likely to become depressed, too. Interestingly, older husbands tended to be more depressed and frail than younger husbands. Older wives were not more depressed, but were frailer than younger wives.
These findings are based on a study of data from 1,260 married couples, aged 65 and older, collected during the Cardiovascular Health Study.
Generally, people are considered frail if they have three or more of these conditions:
The researchers concluded that frailty and depression symptoms may be intertwined for spouses, suggesting that senior living facilities might consider ways to increase couples' engagement in physical activities, social activities, and mutual support.
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This summary is from "Spousal Associations between Frailty Status and Depressive Health Symptoms: Longitudinal Findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study" . It appears online ahead of print in the April 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society . The study authors are Joan Monin, PhD; Margaret Doyle, MPH; Becca Levy, PhD; Richard Schulz, PhD; Terri Fried, MD; and Trace Kershaw, PhD.
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This research summary was developed as a public education tool by the Health in Aging Foundation. The Foundation is a national non-profit established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society to bring the knowledge and expertise of geriatrics healthcare professionals to the public. We are committed to ensuring that people are empowered to advocate for high-quality care by providing them with trustworthy information and reliable resources. Last year, we reached nearly 1 million people with our resources through HealthinAging.org. We also help nurture current and future geriatrics leaders by supporting opportunities to attend educational events and increase exposure to principles of excellence on caring for older adults. For more information or to support the Foundation's work, visit http://www.HealthinAgingFoundation.org .
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society