AN AWARD-WINNING care provider is offering its advice to elderly people in Wales to prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) at this time of year.

Abacare, which provides care for elderly and vulnerable people, says symptoms of SAD are more apparent and severe during the winter due to the dark evenings and cold weather.

Joe Jenkins, Branch Manager at Abacare, which has offices in Ystradgynlais and provides care in the surrounding areas, said: “The majority of our service users are elderly and at this time of year our carers are trained to keep a much closer eye on them for symptoms of SAD, which is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern.

“At this time of year it’s much easier to develop due to the colder weather and dark evenings and the fact that many people may have spent Christmas alone.

"Symptoms of SAD include a persistent low mood, a loss of pleasure or interest in normal, everyday activities, irritability, sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning and craving carbs and gaining weight.

“According to the NHS, the exact cause of SAD isn’t understood, but it is often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn/winter.

"The lack of sunlight may stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus from working properly, which can affect the production of melatonin (the hormone that makes you feel sleepy – the body may produce higher levels due to SAD), the production of serotonin (the hormone that affects your mood, appetite and sleep) and your body’s internal clock, as your body uses sunlight to time important functions, such as when you wake up."