Depression in the context of late-life transitions

Late-life transitions shape feelings, yet these transitions are often overlooked when considering the mental state of older persons. The author discusses late-life transitions and how change in late life can present a challenge for growth. An understanding of these developments is necessary for mental health professionals trying to assess and treat depression in the elderly. Accurate assessment of depressive symptoms in late life requires a multifaceted, age-adjusted understanding of the unique characteristics of life's later years. Such an understanding can be fostered by learning to appreciate the patina that develops from decades of living. Properly focused treatment can promote further maturation in response to the vagaries of life. Change can be fostered by an openness to the possibility of late-life development.