1-Compare the clinical presentation of depression in the older adult and younger adult, and either agree or disagree the person with dementia’s right to drive.
2-One response One paragraph
Depression is a mental health disorder in which patients or persons affected have persistent sadness and loss of interest. Depression affects how patients feel, think, and behave, often leading to various emotional and physical problems depending on their symptoms. Patients always have trouble living and engaging effectively in daily activities. There is some difference between younger and older people regarding the symptomatology of depressive disorder or conditions (Cuijpers et al., 2020).
According to Cuijpers et al. (2020), older adults report less depressed mood when compared to young adults. On the contrary, there is always a high rate of anxiety in older adults with major depressive disorder compared to young adults suffering from depression. In older adults, depression is often hidden behind somatic symptoms due to the somatization of the disorder or symptom accentuation. According to Cuijpers et al. (2020) research findings, the symptoms such as cognitive impairment or depression with dementia are more common in older adults than young adults. The psychotic presentation of depression is more common in elderly patients than in young adults. Depressed adult patients are less likely to endorse affective symptoms but generally display cognitive changes, somatic symptoms, and loss of interest than younger adult patients.
Dementia is a condition in which a person’s ability to remember things, think, or make decisions interferes with how they undertake their daily activities. According to Courtney and Hinault (2021), dementia should not be a reason to stop one from driving. One in every three people diagnoses with dementia still drives, but with time dementia affects people’s ability and skills to engage in safe driving. I’m afraid I have to disagree with dementia’s right to drive, significantly when their driving skills are greatly impaired. The right to go for a dementia person can also pose a risk to other road users.
According to Courtney and Hinault (2021), people diagnosed with dementia cannot engage in safe driving. Driving is a skill that is highly coordinated and sophisticated and requires constant vigilance and awareness from all road users. Driving safely entails anticipating and taking appropriate actions that come with road adjustments and traffic flow changes. I’m afraid I have to disagree with dementia’s right to drive since it cannot be dangerous when the patient cannot remember that they are on the road. Safe driving requires intact cognitive function, sharp reflexes, and focused attention, which is often affected by dementia. Thus, it would not guarantee them the right to drive.
3-Second response
Assessment tools to identify depression in older adults.
4-Third Response
Assessment tools for dementia and different cognitive tests performed to evaluate.