My mother is 89 and seems down lately, sleeping a lot, feels no purpose anymore, seems to be searching for meaning in her present, somewhat circumscribed life. She feels useless. I'm not sure how to help. Would it help her to go to a therapist? Are there therapists who specialize in helping people at this stage of life? I'm not sure what she needs. Maybe I need to go see someone in order to learn how better to help her. I'm not sure who that would be. Maybe I can learn that from a book (suggestions?) But can she? Just not sure where to turn. I don't really know her insurance situation, but does medical coverage at this age cover therapy?

She does see a psychiatrist, but only about every 3 months, if that. She likes the psychiatrist quite a bit and I wish she would tell him what's going on. When she first started with him, she saw him more frequently and would report to me on their conversations, which seemed to give her pleasure--it sounded therapeutic to me. I wish she would go now instead of waiting another month for her regular appointment. My mom is very passive when it comes to health care, thinking that doctors know best and one must obey and not question them. She would see asking for an earlier appointment as going against and questioning her psychiatrist's expertise and judgment, so would never do that. Likewise, she may not be able to bring up these concerns when she sees him. I told her that her psychiatrist would be very interested to hear of her recent sleep problem and asked if she would be able to tell him that next time. She replied that he usually asks her a number of questions, so it might come up. But unless he asks specifically about this, he won't get told.