Assessment of Geriatric Depression in Nursing

Abstract

Relevance of the topic: with rapidly ageing population mental illnesses in elderly group became more common than ever. According to Lithuania Hygiene Institute out of 823 suicides in 2016, 265 of them were in the elderly group. Objectives: General practice nurses working in geriatric and therapeutic departments. Aim: To discuss and examine the current situation in Lithuania regarding nurses' competence and ability in caring for patients with geriatric depression. Objectives of the research: 1. Describe geriatric depression and its treatments: pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic. 2. Evaluate nurses' competence in assessing geriatric depression and ability to use diagnostic tools. 3. Evaluate nursing methods for treating patients with geriatric depression. Research methodology: To determine the assessment and management of geriatric depression in nursing, a quantitative study using an online questionnaire was conducted among nurses working in geriatric and therapeutic units. 36 nurses were surveyd. Results: The study's findings show that hospitals lack the human resources to adequately take care for their patients and that nurses are becoming scapegoats, resulting in patient suffering. 50% of respondents (N=18) don’t have enough time to take care of their patients. Conclusion: Geriatric depression is becoming more and more common so further studies should be considered. More than half of respondents had knowledge about geriatric depression and its symptoms and expressed wish to get additional education about the subject. Also, most of them were familiar with geriatric depression scales and knew how to use it. Nursing methods could be widened but because of lack of time, nurses can‘t do their job as it is expected.