You might consider getting a second medical opinion. My mother is 88 and has some had some simlar medical problems in the past. We went through a period where she was crying for no reason, ect, ect. We have a family history of chronic depression, which is a medical problem, and luckily Mother's doctor recognized that she could not simply 'do more'. He prescribed Zoloft for her, first in a minimum doze and then later a somewhat larger one. She has been on it for nearly two years now, and we've had no recurrences of the depression.
Depression is not necessarily a permanent condition (Both my daughter and myself have had bouts of it that were helped by the 'temporary' use of antidepressants.) In your mother's case, it might be simply a matter of helping her 'over the hump'. You might want to talk to her physician about a short course of treatment. Has the doctor perscribed anything for her hip pain? That alone can be debilitating, and if that is being somewhat controlled, she may feel more 'mobile' and active. Also, could some of her friends help in that area? (Visiting, calling, ect....)
[This message has been edited by Sallen (edited 06-22-2001).]
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elderly mom severely? depressed 
, usually when I'm telling her she can't do something like use the electric hedgetrimmer by herself.
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