Presbyterian Senior Care (HMO) and Presbyterian MediCare PPO | Summer 2021 | Your Story

www.phs.org/Medicare 7 Depression: Don’t stay silent Depression can happen to any of us as we age. And it can have many causes. It might be brought on by the loss of a loved one or other life changes. It may run in your family. Sometimes, it goes hand in hand with an illness like heart disease or cancer. The side effects of medicines can play a role in depression too. Whatever its cause, depression is doesn’t have to be a normal part of aging. It’s a medical condition that can be treated—the sooner, the better. Could you be depressed? Depression isn’t something you can just snap out of. Most people need treatment to feel better. So, it’s good to know the signs. You might be depressed if you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks: ● A sad or empty mood ● Feeling hopeless, guilty, or worthless ● Loss of interest in things that once gave you pleasure ● Frequent crying Still, depression in older adults can look different than in younger ones. Late in life, people with depression may be more likely to: If you or one of your loved ones is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the NewMexico Crisis and Access Line anytime at 1-855-662-7474 ( 1-855-NMCRISIS ). ● Feel tired ● Feel irritable ● Have trouble sleeping ● Have health problems, such as worsening headaches ● Have a hard time focusing ● Be confused Reach out If there’s any chance you’re depressed, tell your doctor. Your doctor will want to rule out certain diseases and medicines that can cause the same symptoms. If you are depressed, treatment can help you feel like yourself again. It may include talk therapy or medicine or both. There may be lifestyle changes that can help too. Our Quality Improvement Program Presbyterian Health Plan, Inc. and Presbyterian Insurance Company, Inc. (Presbyterian) are committed to facilitating access to quality care and providing exceptional service to our members. We have a comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QI Program) that evaluates the care and services you receive. Our goal is to work continuously to improve your experience with care and services. The QI Program includes: ● Member experience activities ● Quality and safety of clinical care ● Quality of service ● Annual goals, processes, and activities At the end of each year, we review the QI Program to see how we did. In 2020, we learned and implemented many new ways to better serve you in 2021 and beyond. We use the results to find the areas that we need to improve. Here are just a few of our 2020 activities and results: ● Developed and deployed a 14-day meal delivery program for members with COVID-19 who did not have good access to food ● Conducted outreach to our complex members to ensure that their needs were met ● Developed a statewide home monitoring program for members who tested positive for COVID-19 but did not require hospitalization ● Extended the supply of prescription drugs and promoted mail order and delivery ● Expanded Video Visits to support continued healthcare ● Identified health disparities and worked to provide equitable access to healthcare and services Early treatment can help keep your depression from getting worse. That’s why it’s so crucial to speak up if you’re struggling. There are better days ahead. Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; National Institute on Aging