Depression in the elderly: literature review

Abstract

Depression affects many people in the world from the young to the old and of all races. It is of great concern that it has been a big challenge in the past, is in the present and it might also be one of the key problems in the society in the coming future. The aim of this research is to find out factors that enhance the existence depression among the elderly and the nurses‘ role in assessing this depression. The questions used in the research are; What factors causes elderly depression? And What is the role of a nurse in assessment and care of patients with elderly depression? Jean Watson's ―Theory of Human Caring‖ was used in the as the theoretical framework. 11 articles were used and the method used was literature review and the analysis method; content analysis, deductive approach. The findings indicated that psycho-social factors for instance interpersonal problems and societal pressure were seen as the most important causes of mental disorder, depression. Other cause identified were stresses in the family and in the society, relationships, lack of support, marital conflicts and problems with children. Nurses are often seen as coordinators for depression care management. This is because they collect information about the patients‘ clinical and psychological history and discuss the patient‘s preferences .Thus, nurses are positioned to understand the social needs of the elderly and it therefore contributes to the assessment of the depressed patients requirements.