Depression in older adults (65 years and older) is associated with emotional suffering, increases in health expenditures, morbidity, higher risk of suicide, and mortality from other causes. Depression is common and remains a significant problem for older adults. Risk factors for depression include genetics, medical conditions, functional decline, disability, social isolation, and psychosocial stressors. Many of these factors are common among older adults.

The Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, “Depression in Older Adults: Screening and Referral”:  https://journals.lww.com/jgpt/Fulltext/2014/01000/Depression_in_Older_Adults__Screening_and_Referral.4.aspx

Screening patients for depression can help identify older adults in need of interventions and lead to improvements in their well-being and overall clinical status. Brief screens can be administered at minimal personnel cost and may lead to a decrease in overall health care costs. A number of barriers for depression recognition exist in the older adult population, including the misperception that depression occurs inevitably as a result of aging or medical illness, and as such is not treatable. Cognitive symptoms may be more prominent and can complicate depression detection. Screening activities do require training and practice, as detection of depression symptoms is often complicated by coexisting medical illness, pain, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and disability in the older adult population.

The Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, “Depression in Older Adults: Screening and Referral”:  https://journals.lww.com/jgpt/Fulltext/2014/01000/Depression_in_Older_Adults__Screening_and_Referral.4.aspx

Strategy 1: Promote use of depression screening by primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who provide clinical care to older adults.