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Sinai's Day
Hospital in
West
Bloomfield
offers treatment
for depression.

RUTHAN BRODSKY
Special to The Jewish News

.-- ,,, , ebecca was depressed.
,.. She continued to see her
.
, .,:, friends and family mem-
._ el. bers, but she lived alone
pl
and the depression didn't go away.
It lasted for several months until
her family insisted she get help.
But Rebecca's family had learned
about a Sinai Hospital program
which treats the emotional prob-
lems of the elderly.
"I didn't want to go to a hospital
for treatment because I'm active
and didn't want people to ;pink of
me as old and feeble-mint} ,:," says
70-year-old Rebecca. "I .2.).) resisted
because I dislike change.
Rebecca met Dr. Albert Bayer ar
Sinai's Day Hospital, "which doesn t

look like a hospital. The therapy
nificant progress in understanding
and medication made a huge differ-
how to treat late-life depression and
ence in my life and I continue to
80 percent of those suffering from
see Dr. Bayer monthly. Depression
depression can be helped.
is not a phase, you know. It doesn't
"Doctors have learned that anti-
go away without help."
depressants work well in older peo-
Treating Rebecca's depression
ple and the newer drugs have less
included counseling, reg-
side effects," says Dr. Bayer,
ular exercising, group
A patie nt makes a director of the Sinai Day
support meetings, and
belt in a physical
Hospital. "Doctors have
lectures on maintaining a therapy session.
also become more adept at
healthy lifestyle.
juggling types and doses of
Depression among
medicines, which is impor-
older Americans is a major health
tant for older persons who tend to
problem because many are unwill-
take medications for a physical ill-
,
ing to seek help and others believe •
ness.'
that depression is an inevitable part
The Day Hospital is a compre-
of aging.
hensive, short-term program that
Many think depression is a sign
provides services to individuals
of personal weakness and is some-
requiring more intensive psychiatric
thing they just have to work out.
treatment than is available in tradi-
But the medical field has made sig-
tional outpatient settings. Operated

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Detroit Jewish News

1999

83