Admission into a long-term care facility can be a very difficult transition that may trigger or exacerbate depression symptoms in the elderly, resulting in decreased quality of life and increased risk of hospitalization (Miu & Chan, 2010). Hoover et al. (2010) states that up to 54.4% of nursing home residents suffer from depression; however, screening of depression upon admission to long-term care is not currently mandated. The purpose of this change project is to implement policy to make depression screening a part of the admission process of long-term care residents. Review of Literature Hoover et al. (2010) examined the prevalence of the diagnosis of depression of long-term care residents upon admission and new depression diagnosis …show more content…
This study concluded that depression during the first year of residence in a nursing home has risen from 42% in 1999 to 54% in 2005 and found those who were admitted from another facility were more likely to be diagnosed with depression (Hoover et al., 2010). A study in Slovakia, by Kabátová, Uríčková, and Botíková (2014), studied the prevalence of depression in long-term care residents, to determine the risk factors linked to depression, and the influence of risk factors on the extent of the depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The sample consisted of 84 long-term care residents age 65 or older with the exclusion criteria of those with an existing diagnosis of depression and those who had antidepressant treatment. Other data collection tools used were the Folstien 's Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living, and a 5-point numerical scale for pain assessment, additionally, each resident was screened for marital status. Data was collected over a one month time period in 3 different long-term care facilities. This study concluded that 60.7% of the sample group suffered from depression, with 32.1% being mildly depressed, and 28.6% being severely depressed. The conclusion of this study showed that the coloration between marital status a diagnosis of depression was statistically significant, with widows having the highest rate of depression. Pain was also
Depression is one of the most recurrently investigated psychological disorders within the area of medical R&D (Montorio & Izal, 1996). A number of exhaustive researches have been carried out to study its symptoms and impacts on different patients belonging to different personal and professional attributes and most of these researchers depicted that depression in the elderly people is very frequent and in spite of number of researches in this context, it is often undiagnosed or untreated. To add to this jeopardy, it has also been estimated that only 10% out of the total depressed elderly individuals receive proper diagnosis and treatment (Holroyd et al, 2000). And for that reason, an authentic
According to the American Psychological Association, one in four adults ages 65 and older experiences a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or dementia. This is quite alarming because it is known that people with mental illness already receive poor care. Poor care combined with living in a society where aging is shamed causes a major concern.Negative stereotypes and attitudes are directed toward the elderly. For
The purpose of this research is to review factors that trigger elderly depression states, their physical and mental health conditions,
Depression- Depression is a significant issue for individuals with high care needs, and their carer’s. Research has shown that the depression levels of young individuals residing in aged care is twice of those living at home, or in Youngcare housing. For individuals living at home 56 percent of their carer’s are defined as moderately depressed, and 40 percent are defined as severely or extremely depressed.
Statement of the Problem/Issue: Providing geriatric patients with better options for mental healthcare is an ongoing issue in long-term care statewide. Under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987, congress made a Preadmission screening and resident review program (PASRR), to help alleviate worries that numerous individuals with genuine emotional instability and mental impediment were living in nursing homes that lacked sufficient assets to suitably meet their needs. PASRR enactment obliges state Medicaid organizations to implement programs that screen and distinguish nursing facility applicants and residents with chronic mental illnesses (Shea & Russo, 2001).
The Geriatric Depression Scale is a 30 question self-report assessment used to identify depression in the elderly (Mental Disorders, 2013). The questions are answered with “yes” or “no”, and ask things such as “Do you feel happy most of the time”, or “Are you hopeful of the future”(NeuorscienceCME, 2013). The points scored on the test depend on the question; there is an answer grid. For example, the question “Do you feel that your life is empty” should be answered with no. It the elderly person answers with “no”, then no point is given. If they answer with “yes”, then a point is added (Mental Disorders, 2013). The lower you score on the test, the less likely you are to be depressed (NeuroscienceCME, 2013). The Scale is also available in a 15, 5, or even 1 question format (Edelman, 2010). The assessment is useful because it allows health professionals to know how the patient feels, their mind set, which will allow that patient to receive treatment in the form of therapy or antidepressant medication (Edelman,
I worked in a long term care facility for three years before going to an internal medicine office. When starting right away I noticed, with my medication passes, that most of the residents were on some type on medication for depression or a mood disorder. I started to think that it must be a common diagnosis for most of these patients because of being in a nursing facility instead of living at home, in which they had been staying most of their adult lives. I then began to think of some of the residents that where immobile and couldn’t ingest orally anymore and would have to rely on internal feedings to keep them alive. It was hard to image how they must have felt. I could see the emotional impact that it had on them losing their ability to
The character Dorothy said in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, “there is no place like home” (Baum, 1960, p. 45). Sadly, many of our elderly live in Long Term Care Facilities (LTCF). The transition from living in their own homes, to living in a LTCF, can be a traumatic experience. Poor adaptation to a LTCF may cause depression, malnutrition and significantly reduce the lifespan of the elder. Thus, it is imperative, that nurse’s recognize this promptly.
Many nursing home residents, including the elderly residents at Hoosier Christian Village, struggle daily with symptoms of situational depression, anxiety, and various mental illnesses brought on by inactivity, decline in physical and mental competence, and the unavoidable confrontation with death. In addition, many residents are admitted to the residence because of previous mental illnesses; therefore, future development or recurrence of these diseases is nearly inevitable.
Many older adults are living with complex comorbidities and rely on a various health services for their care needs. This is especially true for the elderly with chronic illnesses and functional disabilities, such as those living in long-term care facilities. The term “long-term care (LTC) facilities” is a loose term, often used interchangeably with residential homes, care homes, and nursing homes in Canada (Kaasalainen et al., 2010). LTC facilities are defined here as homes providing 24-hour supervised nursing and personal care to residents. When there is a change in residents’ health status, such as exacerbation of a chronic illness, care provided at level LTC facilities oftentimes are insufficient and hence require residents to be transferred
The transition from an independent living situation such as being in the home to some type of institutionalized setting can provoke depression in some individuals. Adult day centers are geared towards assisting the individual as well as the family to make that transition whether it be from the home or transitioning out of a nursing home into a community based adult day center (Fields, 2011). Although the model is to assist with a less costly alternative to institutionalized care “there are issues around the regulation and oversight of ADS programs” (Fields, 2011). The often complex conditions of the elderly transitioning from the institutionalized nursing home setting may be difficult to manage in a community based service such as
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “older adults are at an increased risk of depression, because depression is more common in people who have other illnesses, and 80% of older adults have a chronic condition” (CDC, 2017). The CDC also mentions that older adults are often misdiagnosed or undertreated, because the symptoms may be thought to be the cause of something else, or the patient doesn’t understand that treatment would be beneficial and do not seek help.
Mental disorders are becoming more prevalent in today's society as people add stress and pressure to their daily lives. The elderly population is not eliminated as a candidate for a disorder just because they may be retired. In fact, mental disorders affect 1 in 5 elderly people. One would think that with disorders being rather prevalent in this age group that there would be an abundance of treatment programs, but this is not the case. Because the diagnosis of an individual's mental state is subjective in nature, many troubled people go untreated regularly (summer 1998). Depression in the elderly population is a common occurrence, yet the diagnosis and treatment seem to slip
Practitioners can make better health care management possible through improvement of patient emotional and psychological well-being. For example, among patients with the neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of dementia NPS are associated with, “poor patient and caregiver outcome, including increased health care utilization, excess morbidity and mortality, and earlier nursing home placement, as well as caregiver stress, depression and reduced employment” .
I know someone who is 92 years old. She needs assistance in her every day life as she has lost her vision and her hearing loss has gotten worse. Her environment is not the best because she lives in a rural area. Her family lives far from her and have to pay someone who can take care of her. In order to improve her quality of life they would have to have her move in with one her kids or have one of them move in with her. They can also put her in a nursing home where she will be taken care of by professionals. I agree with Gerardo and Albas relating to the care of the elderly. The depression scale is a great way to find out the way he is feeling. In regards to Albas it does have a lot to do with the way the nurse feels towards the elderly. If