Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in Older Adults

As the darker months draw in, some older people find their mood dips, their energy fades, and they feel low in a way that seems to lift again come spring. This can be more than simply the "winter blues." It may be Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, a recognised form of depression that follows the seasons.

SAD can affect older people particularly, and it is worth understanding, recognising, and taking seriously. Here is what to know, and how to help a loved one through it.

What is SAD?

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. For most people affected, it is more pronounced in the darker autumn and winter months, and eases in spring and summer, which is why it is sometimes called "winter depression."

It is thought to be linked to reduced exposure to daylight, which can affect the body's internal clock, the brain chemicals that regulate mood, and the hormones that govern sleep. Importantly, SAD is a genuine form of depression, not just feeling a little flat when it is grey outside. It can significantly affect a person's wellbeing, and it deserves to be taken seriously.

Why older adults can be especially affected

Older people can be particularly vulnerable to SAD, for a few reasons:

• They may spend less time outdoors, whether because of reduced mobility, poor weather, or simply finding it harder to get out, which means less exposure to the daylight that helps regulate mood.
• Isolation and loneliness, which are sadly more common in later life and often worse in winter, can deepen low mood.
• The symptoms can be easily missed, dismissed as "just getting older," or mistaken for another health condition.

The winter months bring other challenges too, from cold and illness to darker evenings and less social contact, all of which can weigh on an older person's spirits.

Signs to look out for

While only a doctor can diagnose SAD, it helps to know the signs that a loved one may be struggling, particularly if they recur at the same time each year:

• persistent low mood or sadness
• loss of interest or pleasure in things they usually enjoy
• low energy, fatigue, and sleeping more than usual, or finding it hard to get up
• changes in appetite
• irritability, or being more tearful than usual
• difficulty concentrating
• wanting to withdraw and stay indoors

In older people, these signs can be subtle, so it is worth paying gentle attention if a loved one seems persistently low as the seasons turn.

Please take low mood seriously

This is the most important message of all. SAD is a form of depression, and low mood in older people should never be brushed aside as an inevitable part of ageing. Depression in later life is common, it is very often treatable, and yet it frequently goes unrecognised and unsupported.

So if your loved one seems persistently low, whatever the season, please encourage them to see their GP, who can assess how they are feeling and talk through the help available. There are effective forms of support for both SAD and depression more broadly, and no one should simply have to put up with feeling low. Reaching out for help is a positive and important step, not something to feel any hesitation about.

Ways to help

Alongside, and never instead of, professional support, there is a great deal that can gently help lift the spirits through the darker months:

• Make the most of daylight. Getting outside during daylight hours, especially in the morning, is one of the most helpful things of all. A daily walk, time in the garden, or simply sitting by a window with the curtains open all help.
• Keep the home bright. Open curtains wide, and keep rooms well lit and cheerful.
• Stay active. Gentle activity and movement are genuinely good for mood.
• Stay social and connected. Combating isolation matters enormously, so keeping up contact with family, friends and activities is a real tonic through winter.
• Keep to routine, and keep enjoying things. Structure and pleasant activities both help anchor the days.

Some people also find specially designed light boxes, or SAD lamps, helpful, though it is worth discussing these with a GP first, particularly for someone with other health conditions. Our guides to keeping older adults safe and well in winter and companionship as care offer more on getting through the colder months well.

How a live-in carer helps

A live-in carer can help counter the very things that make SAD worse for older people. Through warm companionship, they ease the isolation and loneliness that so often deepen winter low mood. They gently encourage and enable getting outside into the daylight, keeping active, and staying connected, all of which someone alone might struggle to manage. And they help keep the comforting structure of a daily routine.

Just as importantly, because a carer is a consistent, familiar presence, they are well placed to notice a change in mood that an isolated person might not recognise or mention, and to help seek support in good time. Through the dark winter months, simply not being alone, and having someone there to bring light, activity, encouragement and company, can make a real difference to how a loved one feels. A carer can also support them to see the GP and follow any help that is recommended.

Brighter days ahead

Seasonal Affective Disorder can cast a real shadow over the darker months, but it is recognised, it is treatable, and there is a great deal that helps. With awareness, the right support, and professional help where it is needed, your loved one can come through the winter feeling brighter and better.

If you are ever worried about a loved one's mood or mental health, please do reach out to their GP, and if it would help to talk through how we support the people we care for, we would be glad to.

Book a free care advice call, or give us a ring on 020 3970 9900.

This is a sensitive subject, and this guide offers general information rather than medical advice. Low mood and depression should always be taken seriously. If you are concerned about your loved one's mental health, or your own, please speak to a GP, who can offer an assessment and access to appropriate support.