Older adults, that is, those age 65 or older, may face difficult changes in their life such as the death of a spouse or health problems that can lead to depression especially if they don’t have a strong support system. Depression not only makes them suffer from aches, pains and fatigue, but can also have dramatic effects on their overall health. Depression can also affect an older person’s memory and concentration which can lead to a misdiagnosis of dementia. Depression in the elderly is often under recognized and under treated.
The Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form is an easy to use screening tool (not a diagnostic tool) that was developed for health care providers to use in assessing the possibility of depression in the elderly. The GDS:SF is comprised of 15 questions and takes approximately 7 minutes to complete. It is moderately reliable and useful assessment tool in those folks who are ill or well, easily fatigued, have a short attention span, mild to moderate (not severe) cognitive impairment. It is used on folks who are in acute care settings, home care settings, assisted living or long term care facilities.
Nurses may be the only ones who have the most frequent contact with the patient and therefore recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression we rely heavily on our nursing assessment skills. Look for changes in the patients self-care, recent changes in their health, somatic complaints, medications, personal losses, weight changes, sleep patterns, activity level, appetite, substance use or abuse, and suicidal ideation.
There are other, more thorough, screening and assessment tools for depression in the elderly, but the GDS:SF is so far the best tool to use (Mauk, 2010) (Sherry A. Greenberg MSN, 2007). More information can be found in a series titled: “Try This: Best Practices in Nursing Care to Older Adults” from the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University College of Nursing.


References

Mauk, K. L. (2010). Gerontological Nursing, second edition. Valparaiso, Indiana: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Sherry A. Greenberg MSN, A. R. (2007, October). Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form. AJN, pp. 60-69.