Recognition of Depression Among Elderly Recipients of Home Care Services

Abstract

Home health nurses have difficulty making accurate assessments of depression among older home care patients. Inaccuracy in assessment of depression by home health nurses is a significant barrier to treatment in this elderly homebound population.

Measuring health status and decline in at-risk seniors residing in the community using the Health Utilities Index Mark 2

“…Previous findings have identified that depression is highly prevalent in frail older home care patients, but is often unrecognized and under-treated [31,32]. In the present study, 11% experienced an increase in depressive symptoms over 6 months, which may reflect this phenomenon of under-recognition and treatment for mental health issues in this population.…”

Outcomes of community‐based social service interventions in homebound elders

“…However, any study of homebound elderly would involve clients receiving services (Brown et al, 2003).…”

“…Interventions have been studied in this vulnerable population (Clarke et al, 1992;Tinetti et al, 1994;van Haastregt et al, 2000), however, few have targeted depressive symptoms specifically, rather than merely as a potential confounder of outcomes. Though there has been rapid growth of programs designed for the homebound (Clarfield and Bergman, 1991;Kellogg and Brickner, 2000), home health providers may not recognize depressive symptoms among homebound patients, resulting in lack of appropriate services (Brown et al, 2003).…”

Feasibility and Impact of Telemonitor-Based Depression Care Management for Geriatric Homecare Patients

“…[6][7][8][9][10] However, homecare patients often have little access to skilled depression care and most go untreated or inadequately treated, creating a significant public health problem. 11,12 Telehealth technology in homecare may offer an opportunity to increase access to depression treatment by incorporating evidencebased depression care guidelines into an agency's existing telehealth infrastructure and coordinating service via a trained and supported telehealth nurse. This approach combines two important elements of both telehealthcare and depression care: (1) the use of telemonitor technology in homecare to manage chronic diseases, and (2) the ''Collaborative Care'' approach to DCM, which has demonstrated effectiveness in primary care settings (described later).…”