ASS081-2: Exploring Depression in Elderly Care Homes - Portfolio

This portfolio explores the issue of depression in elderly populations residing in care homes, focusing on its prevalence, causes, and effects. It includes a review of relevant UK policies aimed at addressing elderly care and mental health, along with data analysis highlighting the incidence and associated factors of depression within this demographic. The portfolio further examines risk issues such as social isolation, pre-existing health conditions, and lack of access to guidance, alongside potential strategies for managing and mitigating these risks through psychological support, education, and healthcare interventions. A research proposal is included, outlining how primary data could be ethically collected on the topic. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and study resources for students.

Running head: DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY POPULATION IN CARE HOMES
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Depression in elderly population in care homes
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Abstract
Depression is a mental disorder which is commonly shown through loss of mental
pleasure and interest. It is characterized by a feeling of guilt, disturbed appetite, and anti social
relations mostly in elderly population. It results in low self-esteem, poor concentration, stigma
and aggressiveness. It is not a disorder affecting all the elder population but through the research,
it has been found that most of the aging population experience depression at some time. It is
important to make sure that the aged population is taken care of to make sure that they do not die
of depression. There are some strategies such as guidance and counseling imposed in each
nursing home to make sure that the individuals suspected with depression can be helped. Close
supervision, as well as social interactions with the elderly population in nursing homes, should
be done to make sure that at least they feel well taken care of in order to avoid depression.
Table of Contents
Abstract 1
Introduction 2
The discussion and findings 3
UK policies on elderly population 4
Data analysis 5
Depression effects 6
T-Test for statistics 7
Percentage depression within the elderly care homes8

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Literature review 9
Risk issues affecting the elderly population in care homes 10
Demographic Risk issues associated with Depression in Older Adults 11
Depression medication frameworks 12
Strategies to control the risks associated with depression in the elderly population 13
Promoting psychological guidance health care to the elder population 14
Elder population educational strategy15
Recommendation/research proposal 16
Conclusion 17
References 16
Appendix 17
Introduction
Depression has been found to be common in the aging population. The study carried out
by the CDC states that approximately 7 million of the American elder population experience
depression almost every year. Some of the depressed population goes to the extent of committing
suicide. In 2004, 16% of all death incidents were reported to be as results of depression in the
elderly population (Rogers and Pilgrim, 2014 p.23). Most of the elder populations have health

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problems and therefore they experience high depression especially when they are within their
nursing homes. I chose this topic because it is relevant with the theme of the unit. This topic is
important for identifying the following ways in which the elderly are depressed especially within
in their nursing homes. The depression in the elderly population is widely spread almost in all
parts of the world. One is not able to think that he/she could do when was young and that is why
depression is high affecting the elderly population. At older age one my lost friends and
sometimes family members leading to depression in old age (Bartlett and Sandland, 2007 p.78-
79). Elderly in most of the care homes such as hospitals and nursing homes are experiencing a
high incidence of depression. Some of the mental challenges that elder populations go through
may accumulate within their mind resulting into depression. This is a very serious disorder
especially to the older population having so many negative impacts as it will be discussed in the
report. Depression especially to the elder population makes the affected group unable to carry on
with their daily activities. They always think of how their life used to be during their young age.
Through the research carried out by the NIH, depression is common in the aging population with
medical problems (Winstone, 2015 p.234).
The discussion and findings
UK policies on elderly population
UK elderly population care is the key policy that aims at showing how depression in the
elderly population in their care homes can be reduced. The policy aims at making sure that there
are no risks for key elderly people as well as promoting their health standards. To understand the
main purpose, the policy first will address some of the causes of depression in the elderly

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population within their care homes. The policy defines this by first defining the two terms and
then how they link. The two terms aim at empowering the elderly community more particularly
the key aged population with health problems to able to manage their health and make decisions
about their conditions and health without depression (Leff & Warner, 2006 p 89). They are
important in improving and maintaining the key elderly populations’ health and minimizing
depression. The policy shows what elderly populations are and why they are more vulnerable to
the risk of depression.
Education policy is another key factor that will also show the risk issues related to
depression in elderly populations. This policy aim helps in understanding how health education
reduces the risks of depression in the elderly population. It also promotes self-esteem through
psychological education. The policy address the interventions and strategies the community
nurses can use to make sure that the elderly population in care homes do get depressed of their
conditions. Some of the strategies it will address include; developing accurate, actionable and
accurate health information for helping the elderly people out of the depression. To understand
various ways in which the depressed elderly population can be brought back to normal, the
counseling policy is applied (McMurran & Howard, 2009 p.79). This policy promotes changes in
the delivery of healthcare information regarding how depressed individuals can be addressed,
develop guidance, establish a partnership with the elderly population and change policies
governing them and many others. It will show how each intervention will reduce the risks related
to depression in the elderly and promote their medical health.
Health literacy and education policy is the health education policy designed for the public
or individuals to gain skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary to maintain, promote, restore

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and improve the health of the elderly and change their mental thinking (Weinstein, 2010 p. 57).
Health education draws knowledge from different sources such as psychology, biology, ecology,
medicine, and other fields. The knowledge prevents depression disorder in the elderly
population, promote the health of people and cure ailments particularly in elderly individuals
within their care homes. Health education policy strives to influence the elderly population
depression behaviors. It teaches about emotional, physical, social and mental health related to the
elderly population from 65years and above (Ewart, Jorgensen, Suchday, Chen & Matthews, 2002
p.339). It provides an opportunity to learn about the importance of understanding depression
risks related to elderly population hence they can prevent them. Mental health teaches
depression, eating disorders and anxiety thus it helps old people from that mental illness and
depression. It promotes awareness and prevention of elderly diseases, social problems/mental
disorders, exercise, nutritional, behavioral and mental health problems. It reduces and prevents
substance abuse, obesity, violence, and injury by the elderly population is attempted to reduce
the depression in their care homes. Health education policy helps elderly people to overcome
health depression disparities by making sure that they have equal access to healthcare services
and wellness resources for social guidance. It influences key government decisions to impact
positively on the aging population so as to avoid depression. It boosts the social relationship
between the young generation and aging individuals by reducing spending on social healthcare
and increase productivity.
Data analysis
In reference to the data given presented by the UNICEF, 67% of the care home
management in the UK have individuals’ capacity to obtain, understand and process health

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information as well as services required for appropriate decisions on the reduction of depression
cases in the elderly population. WHO leads to high health outcomes as it associates with high
health outcomes such as reduced hospitalization rates, lower healthcare costs and increased
preventative services use. It leads to high health management where people are less likely to
have depression disorder as they are able to manage preventative measures and report their
health issues. WHO helps the community and individuals find the right healthcare services,
maintain their health wellness and take care of their old age life. It assists the elderly community
to be able to share their health concerns and describe symptoms without feeling shame.
Depression effects

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Source:
http://www.jgmh.org/articles/2018/5/2/images/JGeriatrMentHealth_2018_5_2_152_248631_f1.j
pg
According to the research done by UN the years 2011, health education is not just
teaching good health facts but empowering the elderly community to collaborate and access
health information they get to enhance their health wellbeing as well as avoiding the depression
issues. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) links to health education as it also educates the
community about their health and gives foundation to their ability to learn about setting goals
and implementation of health activities. It explains the relationship between health education and
good health outcomes for the elderly population without the influence of depression. According
to the research done by the World Health Organization, out of 142 aged populations, 15.2% are
affected by the depression disorder. GDS is, therefore, acting as a pathway by which health
education improves the health status of elderly people by reducing their depression within their
care homes (McMurran, Khalifa & Gibbon, 2009 p 145). T-Test for statistical significance
mediates health education disparities in the community’s general health, mental health, and
physical health status of the elderly population. Improving health literacy is a strategy to reduce
depression disparities caused by low health education. The Hamilton Rating Scale used for
clinical Depression analysis (HAM-D) explains the mechanism driving poor health and low
health education relationship within the elderly community resulting in depression. Both The
Hamilton Rating and Geriatric Depression Scale empower the nursing care community to
manage their elderly population health. It also helps in identification as well as making decisions

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about depression disorders in the elderly population. Health literacy is an outcome of
interventions in health education.
T-Test for statistics
Geriatric
Depression Scale
15.2%
All elders
represented by
N=142
Percentage Number or
elderly depressed
Percentage
Bipolar disorder 1 6% 5 4.5%
Mental
retardations
7 13.2% 7 4.6%
Psychosis 14 21% 11 3.1%
Epilepsy 9 8.13% 5 8.3%
Stroke 21 33.1% 12 12.3%
Suicides cases 70 56% 79 67%
Stigma 6 5.2% 3 7.9%
According to the Institutional Research Board on depression cases in the elderly
population, both health literacy and education are important in improving and maintaining their
self-esteem. Aged population in care homes should be given some advice based on how they

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should carry out their daily activities in a positive manner. Low skills on health literacy in the
community are a barrier to health information access, medication, and healthcare, which is all
about health education on depression matters concerning the elderly population in hospitals and
care homes.
Percentage depression within the elderly care homes
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/core/lw/2.0/html/tileshop_pmc/tileshop_pmc_inline.html?
title=Click%20on%20image%20to%20zoom&p=PMC3&id=5618995_dn-09-01-0076-g01.jpg
Literature review
Risk issues affecting the elderly population in care homes

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The elderly population is associated with some risks associated with the depression
issues especially those who have some health issues. These populations are at risk of exposure to
suicide cases, as they do not get adequate guidance. They do not have access to guidance and
counseling services as a way of positively influencing their thinking. Discrimination, social
rejection, and stigma prevent the elderly populations from getting the best guidance and health
services and this puts them at high risks. Their pre-existing conditions put them at risk such as
low self-esteem. They always think that they are of no importance and sometimes they may
commit suicide. These individuals mostly have mental health problems such as anxiety,
depression psychological effects of discrimination and physical abuse. They think that society
has neglected them and considered to be of no importance. Due to their mentality of being
neglected by the society they may end up suffering from Communication disorder associated
with depression. In communication results when the individuals above 65 years find themselves
not associating with the rest of the community members. They live a quiet life and have no
intention of sharing what they are undergoing with other people. They feel that even if they
expose their problems and their inner depression nobody will listen to them. In that case some
end up keeping silent forever until their death or even become aggressive to other members of
the community. to some extent, they feel that the young generation is just looking down upon
them. In fact, most of them think that other members within the care homes especially the nurses
and caregivers are not caring about their inner depression suffering. There have been some cases
reported especially in the UK where the elderly individuals in care homes escape the hospitals
even without completing their treatment time due to the influence of depression (Knifton &
Quinn, 2013 p. 57). They think that those attendants think that they are of no importance and

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they opt to escape the care homes. The mental issues make the populations take risks associated
with committing suicide behavior and share injections in drug so as to reduce their depression.
Some of the elderly populations have low access to health education which reduces their health
situations hence they do not know how to cope up with depression.
Demographic Risk issues associated with Depression in Older Adults
The old population between 65-70 years have more than one health issue to deal with and
are mostly as results of the depression. They are also at risks of high consumption of alcohol and
drug abuse in the excuse of reducing the depression and stress within themselves. Behaviors that
put them at risk for drugs abuse are the same that put them at risk to more health issues. They
are more likely to have other infections transmitted by drug injection and at great risk for other
diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis C. Another risk issue is lack of care and neglect from
the community, which stigmatizes the population from taking medication especially for the
individuals having health problems. The populations do not get some basic vaccinations due to
self-denial as well considering being of low value before the community. They experience eating
disorders and body image problems, which is a risk to their mental health as they try to fight
excessive weights. Another risk issue is the side effects of medications used to treat some of their
existing conditions may be interfered by the depression complications.
Depression medication frameworks
Strategies to control the risks associated with depression in the elderly population