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Depression and its negative effects on an older adult
By the year 2045, the number of adults’ ages sixty years and older will increase significantly in comparison to a person who is fifteen years of age or younger (Touhy, Jett, Boscart, & McCleary, 2012). Therefore, a large percentage of people seeking medical attention and support in the future will be the older adult. Presently, there are many health related issues and conditions that plague the older adult, and these will only continue to increase due to the escalation in the numbers of older adults. One mental health condition that should be brought to light, in this students’ opinion, is the prevalence of depression among the older population. There is a specific concern about this demographic suffering from depression especially given the direct correlation between depressive conditions and chronic disease (Craven & Bland, 2013). For the purpose of this paper this student will define depression; explain how depression negatively affects an older persons physical health, as well as address how a psychiatric nurse can assist in providing competent care that will work towards illuminating depression in hopes of managing it thus, allowing for an older adult to live a fuller life.
Depression is characterised as a mental health disorder in which a person may experience a variety of symptoms including a decrease in energy, a loss of motivation, a loss of self-esteem, as well as a decreased concentration or increased indecisiveness (Touhy et al., 2012). As a psychiatric nurse it is vital that one is competent in recognizing the signs and symptoms that are associated with depression. Take for example a decrease in energy. When an older adult begins to display a decrease in energy he...
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...4-563. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=11&sid=b6f654f4-e84c-4c04-bcf8-a4b720e031a0%40sessionmgr4001&hid=4204&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=pbh&AN=82106321
Touhy, T. A., Jett, K. F., Boscart, V., & McCleary, L. (2012). Ebersole and Hess gerontological nursing and healthy aging (1st ed.). Toronto, ON: Elsevier Canada.
Wang, Y., Lin, F., Yu, C., Tzeng, Y., Liang, C., Chang, Y., ... Kao, S. (2012). Depression as a predictor of falls amongst institutionalized elders. Aging and mental health, 16(6), 763-770. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6&sid=543837b6-8e4b-4b00-a58b-a7a583e2f1bc%40sessionmgr110&hid=124&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=rzh&AN=2011600190
Witter Du Gas, B., Esson, L., & Ronaldson, S. E. (1999). Nursing foundations a Canadian perspective (2nd ed.). Scarborough, ON: Prentice Hall Canada Inc.
Loiselle, C. G., Profetto-McGrath, J., Polit, D. F., Beck C. T., (2007). Canadian essentials of nursing research (2nd ed.) Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
In over-all, 65 years and older suffer from many geriatric symptoms, due to psychotropic and anti-psychotropic medications, including Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), mobility challenges, incontinence, poor balance, disorganization and confusion which all lead to high falls. According to a study in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, patients with the highest risk for falls presented with one or more of the following variables such as Parkinson’s syndrome, Dementia, female gender, mood stabilizers, cardiac arrhythmia, and ECT. Edmonson et. al established, “The Edmonson Psychiatric Fall Risk Assessment Tool (EPFRAT) specific to the psychiatric, geriatric population and found initial testing of EPFRAT to have higher sensitivity in assessing fall risk in the geri-psych inpatient population” (Edmonson, Robinson, & Hughes, 2011). This project purpose is to investigate and explore whether an Edmonson Fall risk assessment Toll decreases patient falls in inpatient geri-psych units. Stakeholders and Change
Touhy, T. A., Jett, K. F., Boscart, V., & McCleary, L. (october 2011). Ebersole and Hess Gerontological Nursing and Healthy Aging (1st canadian edition ed.). Retrieved from
Creasia, J., & Friberg, E. (2011). Conceptual foundations: The bridge to professional nursing practice. (5th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.
Newbergh, C. (2005, 11/2005). The Robert Wood Foundation’s Commitment to Nursing. To Improve Health and Health Care, VIII, 1-16.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2013) Report revealed that the World Health Organization describes the inequities and disparities within a community as social determinants. These social determinants include age, sex, birth place, where one lives, works, plays, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and has a healthcare system. McKibbin and Deacon (2011) revealed it is estimated that 20% of older adults suffer from a mental health disorder. Patients with a chronic illness such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, geriatric depression, chronic pain issues, cancer, and diabetes account for trillions of dollars spent on medical care in the United States. As the population ages the costs will expand, the shortage of physicians and nurses will continue to decrease and the scope of this problem will increase thus the need for new innovative ideas and plans to care for the geriatric population including those in the rural regions. One potential solution for geriatric depression ...
Touhy, T. A., & Jett, K. (2012). Toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Mosby.
Miller, Carol A. (2012). Nursing for Wellness in Older Adults. (sixth edition). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Houde, S., & Melillo, K. (2009). Caring for an aging population. Journal Of Gerontological Nursing, 35(12), 9-13. doi:10.3928/00989134-20091103-04
Of the estimated 35 million people in the U.S. that are over the age of 65, 6.5 million are in need of some sort of mental health services. (Comer, 2004) However, less than 20% receive treatment (Benek-Higgins, 2008). According to the American Psychiatric Association, there may be instances where a person may not report a depressed mood or sadness, since many including those in the elderly population, may deny such feelings (APA, 1994).Anxieties, irritability, not able t...
West, E., Griffith, W., Iphofen, R. (2007, April vol.16/no.2). A historical perspective on the nursing
Kick, Ella. "Overview: Health Care and the Aging Population: What Are Today's Challenges?" The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. N.p., n.d. Web.
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2010). Essentials of Nursing Research (7th ed): Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Depression plagues over about 121 million people worldwide suffer from some form of depression. On average 1 out of every 10 people in the U.S. suffer from Depression. Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well-being (www). Depression is unbiased in whom it chooses to plague. Anyone and everyone can become a victim of depression, including children. And twice as many women have been reported to be affected than men. In order to defeat depression, we must first begin to understand it. Depression is more than a feeling, it is a disease.
There are many symptoms of depression. Symptoms can include persistent sad or “empty” mood, loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including sex, decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”, Sleep disturbances such as insomnia, early morning wakes or oversleeping, eating disturbances such as loss of appetite and weight, or weight gain, difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts, irritability, excessive crying, or chronic aches and pains that don’t respond to treatment.