A Downward Spiral: A Case Study in Homelessness
Learning Objectives: At the end of this case, you will be able to:
? Analyze at least three issues contributing to mental illness in the homeless.
? Describe barriers to mental health care for individuals who are homeless.
? Reflect on your personal views and understanding of the mentally ill homeless population.
Description
Thirty-six-year-old John may not fit the stereotype of a homeless person. Not long ago, he was
living what many would consider a healthy life with his family. But when he lost his job, he
found himself in a downward spiral, and his situation dramatically changed.
John’s story is a fictional composite of real patients that are treated by Health Care for the
Homeless. It illustrates the challenges homeless people face in accessing health care and the
despair they often experience.
Case:
Married with two young children, John and his wife rented a two-bedroom apartment in a safe
neighborhood with good schools. John liked his job as a delivery driver for a large food service
distributor, where he had worked for more than four years. His goal was to become a supervisor
in the next year. John’s wife was a stay-at-home mom.
John had always been healthy. Although he had health insurance through his job, he rarely
needed to use it. He smoked half a pack of cigarettes each day and drank socially a couple times
a month. In the past he had struggled with an addiction problem—mostly alcohol and
marijuana—but since having kids he had made some significant improvement in his drinking
behaviors. John grew up in a pretty tough neighborhood and both his parents were alcoholics. He
had endured some abusive behaviors from his father when he was younger and developed some
problems in school with acting out. He eventually saw a school counselor and things settled
down. He never followed up with any mental health counseling once he left school. Overall his
life appeared to be going well.
One afternoon, John’s company notified him that it was laying him off along with more than a
hundred other employees. Though he was devastated about losing his job, John was grateful that
he and his wife had some savings that they could use for rent and other bills, in addition to the
unemployment checks he would receive for a few months.
John searched aggressively for jobs in the newspaper and online, but nothing worked out. He
began to have feelings of anger and worry that led to panic. His self-esteem fell, and he became
depressed. When John’s wife was hired to work part-time at the grocery store, the couple felt
better about finances. But demoralized by the loss of his job, John started to drink more often.
Two beers a night steadily increased to a six-pack. John and his wife started to argue more often.
Then, about six months after losing his job, John stopped receiving unemployment checks. That
week, he went on a drinking binge that ended in an argument with his wife. In the heat of the
fight, he shoved her. The next day, John’s wife took the children and moved in with her parents.
No longer able to pay the rent, John was evicted from the apartment.
John tried to reconcile with his wife, but she said she’d had enough. Over the next few months,
John “couch surfed” with various family members and friends. At one point, he developed a
cold, and when it worsened over a few weeks, he sought care at the emergency department.
Hospital staff told him that he would be billed because he didn’t have insurance. John agreed,
and a doctor diagnosed him with a sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics. With no money to
spare, John could not get the prescription filled.
John continued to live with family and friends, but his heavy drinking and anger only got worse,
and his hosts always asked him to leave. He went from place to place. Finally, when John ran out
of people to call, he found himself without a place to stay for the night and started sleeping at the
park.
He became more depressed with little hope that things would ever get better and often thought
about ending his life. John’s ability to cope with his homelessness led him to engage in
increasingly risky behaviors. He often found himself getting into fights, had begun to rummage
through trash for cans and bottles and now had an arrest record for loitering and petty theft.
Winter arrived, and it was too cold for John to sleep outside, so he began staying at a shelter run
by the church. Each morning, he had to leave the shelter by 6 AM. He walked the streets during
the day and panhandled for money to buy alcohol.
One evening, some teenage boys jumped John in park, stealing his backpack and kicking him
repeatedly. An onlooker called 911, and John was taken to the emergency department. Later that
evening, the hospital discharged John. He returned many times to the emergency department for
his health care, seeking treatment for frequent colds, skin infections, and injuries. Providers
never screened him for homelessness or mental illness and always discharged him back to
“home.”
Adapted from Terri LaCoursiere Zucchero, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, and Pooja Bhalla, MSN, RN
Discussion Questions:
1. What events in John’s life created a “downward spiral” into homelessness and hopelessness?
Which events are related to social needs, mental health needs, medical needs and which could
health care have addressed?
2. What were some of the barriers John faced in accessing medical care; mental health care?
3. How does homelessness and mental illness intersect? Do you believe homelessness may
develop because of a mental health issue or do you believe those who become homeless
eventually sink into psychological despair?
4. The tipping point for many people who live at the margins of society may be things that could
have been managed given the right supports. How can your role as an RN help to identify,
alleviate or support those who are in need like John?
5. In your own experience, have you encountered a homeless individual? What was that like? Do
you recall what you were thinking?
Helpful resources to answer the questions
https://www.nursing.theclinics.com/article/S0029-6…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC40298…
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/most-americans-are-one-medical-emergency-away-from-
financial-disaster-2017-01-12
Also, check the attached files including class lectures.
Practitioners’
Guide
For Working with
Older Adults
with Depression
The Treatment
of Depression
in Older Adults
Practitioners’
Guide
For Working with
Older Adults
with Depression
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Treatment
of Depression
in Older Adults
Acknowledgments
This document was prepared for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) by Abt Associates, Inc., and the National Association of State Mental
Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Research Institute, under contract number 280-04-0095
and Westat under contract number 270-03-6005, with SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS). Pamela Fischer, Ph.D., served as the Government Project Officer.
Disclaimer
The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of the authors and contributors
and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the Center for Mental Health
Services (CMHS), SAMHSA, or HHS.
Public Domain Notice
All material appearing in this document is in the public domain and may be reproduced
or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Citation of the source is appreciated. However,
this publication may not be reproduced or distributed for a fee without the specific, written
authorization from the Office of Communications, SAMHSA, HHS.
Electronic Access and Copies of Publication
This publication may be downloaded or ordered at http://store.samhsa.gov. Or, please
call SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727)
(English and Español).
Recommended Citation
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Treatment of Depression
in Older Adults: Practitioner’s Guide for Working with Older Adults with Depression. HHS Pub.
No. SMA-11-4631, Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011.
Originating Office
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Rockville, MD 20857
HHS Publication No. SMA-11-4631
Printed 2011
Practitioners’ Guide for Working
with Older Adults with Depression
This booklet describes how practitioners can screen for
depression, assess and diagnose depression, select an
appropriate treatment, deliver care, and evaluate outcomes. It
also describes how practitioners can participate in implementing
evidence-based practices (EBPs).
For references, see the booklet, The Evidence.
The Treatment
of Depression
in Older Adults
This KIT is part of a series of Evidence-Based Practices KITs created by the
Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This booklet is part of The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Evidence-Based Practices KIT, which includes 10 booklets:
How to Use the Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Evidence-Based Practices KIT
Depression and Older Adults: Key Issues
Selecting Evidence-Based Practices for Treatment of Depression
in Older Adults
Evidence-Based Practices Implementation Guides:
Older Adult, Family, and Caregiver Guide on Depression
Practitioners’ Guide for Working with Older Adults
with Depression
Guide for Agency Administrators and Program Leaders
Leadership Guide for Mental Health, Aging, and General
Medical Health Authorities
Evaluating Your Program
The Evidence
Using Multimedia to Introduce Your EBP
What’s in Practitioners’ Guide for Working
with Older Adults with Depression
Why You Should Care About EBPs for Older Adults
with Depression………………………………………………………… 1
Working with Older Adults…………………………………………… 2
Screening for Depression…………………………………………….. 4
Assessing and Diagnosing Depression…………………………….. 6
Selecting a Treatment…………………………………………………. 8
Delivering Evidence-Based Care…………………………………… 10
Evaluating Care……………………………………………………….. 22
Implementing EBPs………………………………………………….. 22
The Treatment
of Depression
in Older Adults
Practitioners’ Guide for Working
with Older Adults with Depression
The Practitioners’ Guide for Working with Older Adults with Depression gives
practitioners strategies for providing effective and appropriate care to older adults
with depression. Practitioners include people who provide care to older adults
with depression. The training and activities of practitioners may differ among the
mental health, aging, and general medical health settings. Practitioners may include
psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, nurses, social workers, aging service providers,
and other providers of care.
This booklet describes how practitioners can screen for depression, assess and
diagnose depression, select an appropriate treatment, deliver care, and evaluate
outcomes. It also describes how practitioners can participate in implementing
evidence-based practices (EBPs).
Why You Should Care About EBPs for Older Adults
with Depression
Demand is growing for mental health
services for older adults. Older adults
make up 12 percent of the American
population, but will grow to 20 percent
of the population by 2030.
Practitioners’ Guide
1
Although depression is not a normal
response to changes that occur in
older adulthood, this medical problem
affects many older adults. It is widely
underrecognized and undertreated.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Depression can impair an older adult’s ability to
function independently and can contribute to poor
health outcomes. It can cause suffering and family
disruption. Without treatment, the symptoms of
depression can last for years.
Working with Older Adults
The relationship that you form with an older adult
is one of the most important parts of delivering
effective care. Building a therapeutic relationship
includes showing respect for the older adult,
demonstrating your competence in issues of aging
and depression, and communicating empathetically
with the older adult.
Several effective treatments can reduce the
symptoms of depression for most older adults.
Increasing the availability of these treatments is an
important way of improving the quality of care for
older adults. Providing EBPs for the treatment of
depression can help in these ways:
Understanding older adults in terms of their cohort,
or age group, is an essential part of developing
a therapeutic relationship, especially if you are
considerably younger. Each generation can identify
cultural norms or historic events that influence their
style of coping with problems, family relationships,
and outlook on life. Today’s older adults grew up
during times of racial segregation. Some remember
the Great Depression and many served during
World War II.
n Reduce or eliminate the symptoms
of depression;
n Lower the risk for suicide;
n Improve physical health; and
n Reduce functional disability.
A variety of skills can help you provide effective
depression care to older adults. You can improve
delivery of care by strengthening your ability in
these areas:
Cultural and generational issues, as well as physical
changes associated with aging, may affect the way
you interact with older adults. Showing an interest
in how older adults view the nature of their
problems, and the coping style they are familiar
with, can enhance your relationship with them. For
important tips for working with older adults, see
the next page.
Working with older adults;
n Screening for depression;
n Assessing and diagnosing depression;
n Selecting a treatment;
n Delivering evidence-based care; and
n Evaluating care.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
2
Pactitioners’ Guide
Tips for Working with Older Adults
Communication
n Speak slowly so your words don’t run together. Speak in a clear, normal tone. Some pitches are
difficult for some older adults to hear.
n Sit directly in front of an older adult so he or she can see your face and lips as you speak. You may also
ask if he or she can hear you better out of one ear or the other so you can speak in that direction.
n Provide printed information to older adults. Use large print materials with at least 14-point font size,
black print on white, nonglare paper.
n Avoid using slang terms or medical jargon.
n Word choice is crucial. Try to be careful when choosing your words to minimize the effect of mental
health stigma, which may prevent an older adult from accepting services.
n Refer to older adults with titles of respect, that is, Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms, Dr., or other title until given
permission to use the first name.
n Depending on the older adult’s culture, it may be necessary to communicate directly with family
members as well as incorporating family members and caregivers into the treatment plan.
n Encourage the older adult to ask questions.
Privacy
n During in-home visits, be aware that privacy may be an issue. It is often helpful to have family present
to help obtain historical information. It also is important to meet with the older adult individually so
sensitive information can be shared more comfortably (for example, elder abuse).
n Obtain consent to talk with the older adult’s physical health doctor as soon as possible.
n At each contact assure the privacy of the information given.
Assessment
n Take into account literacy and fluency in speaking and understanding English when working with
minority older adults.
n Use words that are acceptable and familiar when assessing an older adult’s feelings, such as stress,
nerves, fatigue, or feeling low or sad.
n Plan more time for assessments than with younger adults. Plan more time for each contact.
n Try not to cut off sentences or fill in words while an older adult is pausing. Some older adults may
give useful information in a story format.
n Find out the older adult’s beliefs and knowledge concerning depression.
n At times it may be necessary to help older adults refocus. A gentle but decisive approach is needed.
n Never underestimate any inference of feeling worthless or wanting to die. Always indicate your
concern and attempt to get more detailed information. Plan to act on that information as indicated.
n While assessing, look at the whole person. Consider whether assistive devices might help older adults
stay in their homes longer.
n Ask for a current list of prescription and over-the-counter medications. If an older adult does not have
a current list, ask him or her to bring in all medications so a list can be made.
Adapted from Tips from the Southern Illinois Gero-Psychiatric Specialists.
Practitioners’ Guide
3
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Screening for Depression
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2)
Screening for depression improves your ability to
recognize and diagnose depression, and thereby
provide appropriate treatment and improve
outcomes of depression. Screening for depression
is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services
Task Force (2002) in health care settings where
practitioners are prepared to confirm an accurate
diagnosis and provide effective treatment
and followup.
The PHQ-2 includes the following two questions.
If the answer to either is “Yes,” the older adult
should receive further evaluation for depression.
n Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt little
interest or pleasure in doing things?
n Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt down,
depressed, or hopeless?
Geriatric Depression Scale
Several instruments can help you screen for
depression in older adults. Two common measures
are the Patient Health Questionnaire and the
Geriatric Depression Scale. For older adults with
a positive screen on either of these measures, you
should conduct a full diagnostic evaluation for
depression or refer the older adult to a practitioner
who can do so. See Evaluating Your Program in
this KIT for more information about these and
other measures for evaluating older adults.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
The short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale
is a 15-item screening tool designed specifically
for older adults who may need further evaluation
for depression. You can use this scale to screen
for depression and to monitor outcomes of
depression treatment.
The Geriatric Depression Scale has been
translated into multiple languages (for
example, Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese,
and many others) and is available at
http://www.stanford.edu/~yesavage/GDS.html.
4
Pactitioners’ Guide
Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form)
Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week.
1. Are you basically satisfied with your life?
9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than
going out and doing things?
❏ Yes
❏ Yes
❏ No
❏ No
2. Have you dropped many of your activities
and interests?
10. Do you feel that you have more problems
with memory than most?
❏ Yes
❏ Yes
❏ No
❏ No
3. Do you feel that your life is empty?
11. Do you think it is wonderful to be
alive now?
❏ Yes
❏ No
❏ Yes
4. Do you often get bored?
❏ No
❏ Yes
12. Do you feel worthless the way you
are now?
❏ No
5. Are you in good spirits most of the time?
❏ Yes
❏ Yes
❏ No
❏ No
13. Do you feel full of energy?
6. Are you afraid that something bad is going
to happen to you?
❏ Yes
❏ No
❏ Yes
14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?
❏ No
❏ Yes
7. Do you feel happy most of the time?
❏ No
❏ Yes
15. Do you think that most people are better
off than you are?
❏ No
8. Do you often feel helpless?
❏ Yes
❏ Yes
❏ No
❏ No
Scoring: Score 1 point if you answered NO to Questions 1, 5, 7, 11, 13.
Score 1 point if you answered YES to Questions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15.
Total your points. Total point score: ______________
A score > 5 is suggestive of depression and a score > 10 is almost always indicative of depression.
For more information, see “Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale:
A preliminary report,” by J. A. Yesavage, T. L. Brink, T. L. Rose, O. Lum, V. Huang, M. Adey, and
V. O. Leirer, 1983, Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17, 37–49.
Practitioners’ Guide
5
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
n Ensure that the older adult has a recent physical
Assessing and
Diagnosing Depression
evaluation. Symptoms of depression can be
caused by serious (and even life-threatening)
undiagnosed medical disorders.
Depression is often underrecognized and
undertreated in older adults. Some reasons include
the following:
Review physical health history. Obtain the
older adult’s permission to review relevant
medical records and communicate directly
with the primary care practitioner.
n Older adults often emphasize physical rather
than cognitive and mood complaints, or they
may report mild or nonspecific symptoms
of depression.
Review social history, including
personal supports.
Assess for the presence of risk factors,
including history of depression in the older
adult and his or her family members.
n Symptoms of depression often overlap with
symptoms of physical disorders.
n Depression may be a side effect of a medication
Ask direct questions about symptoms of
depression, thoughts of suicide, psychosis,
and recent losses or crises.
or result from adverse drug intereactions.
n Depression can be mistaken for anxiety, as
mixed depression and anxiety is common.
Review medications.
n A misconception is that depression is a normal
Assess cognitive dysfunction and
functional disability.
or understandable component of aging.
n Older adults may deny symptoms of depression
Obtain the older adult’s permission to
consult family members, if available, to
verify information and to provide a different
perspective on the older adult’s problems.
and refuse to accept the diagnosis because
of stigma.
n Inadequate mental health training exists among
practitioners working with older adults.
Use a standardized assessment tool to rate
the severity of symptoms (for example,
Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9],
Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form).
n Practitioners may be uncertain of the diagnosis,
available treatment, or expected outcomes
of treatment.
n Time limitations in primary care interfere with
the practitioner’s ability to address both physical
health and mental health problems.
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
The nine-item PHQ-9 can help you rate the
severity of depressive symptoms and help
make a diagnosis of depression. The questions
of the PHQ-9 align with the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American
Psychiatric Association, 2000) diagnostic criteria
for depression.
You can improve recognition of depression by
conducting a careful evaluation of older adults who
screen positive or have risk factors for depression.
The goal of an evaluation is to determine
the causes of depression and the best course
of treatment.
To evaluate depression in older adults, you can
perform the following assessments:
The PHQ-9 has been translated into multiple
languages (for example, Spanish, Chinese, and
many others). To learn more about the PHQ‑9,
visit http://www.depression-primarycare.org/clinicians/
Conduct an individualized depression assessment
and interview.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
toolkits/materials/forms/phq9/
6
Pactitioners’ Guide
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
Rate question 1 with the following categories:
Not at all (score 0),
Several days (score 1),
More than half the days (score 2), or
Nearly every day (score 3).
1.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
a. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
b. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
c. Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much
d. Feeling tired or having little energy
e. Poor appetite or overeating
f. Feeling bad about yourself, feeling that you are a failure, or feeling that you have let yourself
or your family down
g. Trouble concentrating on things such as reading the newspaper or watching television
h. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or being so fidgety or restless
that you have been moving around a lot more than usual
i.
Thinking that you would be better off dead or that you want to hurt yourself in some way
Rate question 2 with the following categories:
Not difficult at all,
Somewhat difficult,
Very difficult,
Extremely difficult
2.
If you checked off any of these problems, how difficult have these problems made it for you to do your
work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?
Total point score (Questions 1a-1i): ______________
A score > 10 is indicative of depression when problems are at least somewhat difficult.
For more information, see “Validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD: The PHQ
Primary Care Study,” by R. Spitzer, K. Kroenke, and J. B. Williams, 1999, Journal of the American Medical
Association, 282, pp. 1737-1744. Copyright 1999 © Pfizer Inc.
Practitioners’ Guide
7
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Selecting a Treatment
Best available evidence
The Institute of Medicine (2001) defines evidencebased practice (EBP) as the integration of the
best research evidence with clinical expertise
and patient values.
Treatments that have been labeled as EBPs
are different from other treatments. EBPs have
been rigorously evaluated by scientists (in at
least two studies) to determine that they reduce
the symptoms of depression in older adults.
These evaluations have compared the EBP
to a comparison group.
When you select an EBP for a particular older
adult, you should consider these factors:
n The older adult’s presenting problems and
Several effective treatments are available to treat
depression in older adults. It is important to
implement these EBPs because they are proven
to be more effective than usual care, and they are
not being implemented broadly in practice. For a
description of these EBPs, see Selecting EvidenceBased Practices for Treatment of Depression in
Older Adults in this KIT.
diagnosis, including the severity and duration
of depression;
n The older adult’s prior history of response
to treatments;
n The presence of other health conditions
or medications;
n The tolerability of the treatments with respect
to side effects or required effort;
EBPs for Depression in Older Adults
n The older adult’s access to care;
n The availability of treatment for the older adult,
n Psychotherapy interventions
including the preferred setting for the delivery
of the service;
❏❏ Cognitive behavioral therapy
❏❏ Behavioral therapy
The older adult’s personal preferences and
choice in treatment interventions; and
❏❏ Problem-solving treatment
n The ability to finance the treatment.
❏❏ Interpersonal psychotherapy
It is important to select the treatment
that best fits the needs of the older adults
you serve. When selecting an appropriate
intervention, you should work with older
adults to identify the best available evidence
and the expected outcomes of the treatment,
and understand their treatment preferences.
❏❏ Reminiscence therapy
❏❏ Cognitive bibliotherapy
n Antidepressant medications
n Multidisciplinary geriatric mental health
outreach services
n Collaborative and integrated mental and
physical health care
Several other interventions have been developed
to treat depression but lack rigorous testing
among older adults. In the future, these promising
practices may meet the criteria for an EBP for
treating depression in older adults.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
8
Pactitioners’ Guide
Older adult preferences
Steps You Can Take
It is important for you to understand the treatment
preferences of older adults. Older adults may
have clear preferences for receiving one type
of treatment over another.
n Know how demographic characteristics
and cultural beliefs influence perceptions
of depression, treatment access, treatment
preferences, and desired outcomes.
Preferences may be based on the following factors:
n Use screening tests and a standard
depression evaluation to improve your
recognition of depression.
n Side effects of treatment;
n Program expectations;
n Understand the treatment preferences
n Length of treatment;
and values of older adults and involve
them in making treatment decisions.
n Experiences of peers; or
n Work with practitioners from different
n Perceived stigma.
disciplines to address the multiple physical
health, mental health, and social needs of
the older adult.
For example, some older adults who are
on a large number of medications prefer
psychotherapy interventions. Others prefer
the convenience of medication over the
multiple visits and homework that are part
of psychotherapy.
n Learn specialized skills for communicating
and working with older adults
with depression.
n Use standardized depression scales
Conversations with older adults can help you
identify their preferences and values. You can
engage older adults in ongoing discussions that
allow them to actively participate in treatment
decisions. These discussions can empower the
older adult to help decide what type of depression
care he or she wishes to receive. This model of
care is sometimes called shared decisionmaking
and is an important principle identified by the
Institute of Medicine (2001).
(for≈example, Geriatric Depression Scale,
PHQ-9) as outcome measures to evaluate
the effectiveness of implementation and
treatment.
n Monitor treatment participation and
response. Reevaluate older adults (in
person or by phone) within the first 2
weeks after beginning treatment and
at least every 3 weeks during the first 3
months of treatment.
Shared decisionmaking often represents a different
way of thinking for older adults. While some older
adults may be hesitant to participate in treatment
decisions, you can encourage their participation
and use their feedback to guide the selection of the
best treatment. For information for older adults
on becoming more involved in making treatment
decisions, see Older Adult, Family, and Caregiver
Guide on Depression in this KIT.
Practitioners’ Guide
9
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
As an example, practitioners who deliver
the PATCH (Psychogeriatric Assessment
and Treatment in City Housing) model of
multidisciplinary community-based outreach
comment that their ability to help an older adult is
often improved because they can address physical
health problems, transportation, housing stability,
and assistance with access to medical visits and
medications. (For a description of the PATCH
model, see Selecting Evidence-Based Practices
for Treatment of Depression in Older Adults in
this KIT.)
Delivering Evidence-Based Care
A person-centered approach to delivering care
should focus on the goals that are set by the older
adult. You are more likely to meet his or her goals
with an understanding of the following:
n An array of services is available to older adults;
n Collaboration among practitioners from
different disciplines is desirable; and
n Your treatment approach will be guided
by understanding key principles of aging.
An array of services is available
Collaborating with other practitioners
Treatment for depression in older adults is not
limited to EBPs. EBPs should be one component
of a larger continuum of services. Other services
may lack the scientific rigor of an EBP but may
still be important for older adults.
Older adults with depression typically need
multiple medical and social services. You are more
likely to provide comprehensive and effective care
by working together with mental health, aging, and
general medical health practitioners.
The effectiveness of EBPs may be improved if
you can provide them along with other supportive
services. Supportive services can include
the following:
You can achieve effective collaboration
in these ways:
Education about depression;
n Identifying health and social issues that can be
n Obtaining the older adult’s permission to contact
his or her other practitioners;
addressed together; and
n Support for family members and caregivers;
n Establishing a mechanism for clear and
n Assistance with other health and social concerns;
frequent communication.
n Treatment of co-occurring physical or mental
disorders; and
n Treatment of co-occurring substance use
problems (including problems with alcohol
and illicit drug abuse, and medication misuse).
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
10
Pactitioners’ Guide
Principles for delivering care
to older adults
Issue 1: Co-occurring physical illness
is the rule, not the exception
A distinguishing feature of old age is the common
presence of chronic physical illness. About 80
percent of older adults (over age 65) have at least
one chronic physical disorder, and 50 percent have
at least two. Some of the most common physical
disorders include arthritis and musculoskeletal
conditions, and heart disease and other circulatory
problems. Despite the high rate of chronic physical
disorders, two-fifths of older adults consider their
health to be excellent or very good.
For those adults who suffer from symptoms
of depression, recovery is possible. Effective
treatments can help up to 80 percent of older
adults feel better.
Remembering several important principles
can help you provide more effective care to
older adults.
Among older adults with depression, approximately
one-fifth suffer from heart disease, one-fifth have
diabetes, two-fifths have arthritis, and nearly half
have hypertension.
Practitioners’ Guide
11
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
n
Important Issues in Delivering Care to Older Adults
n Co-occurring physical illness is the rule, not the exception. Obtain a recent physical evaluation
to rule out potential physical causes or contributors to symptoms of depression.
n Co-occurring anxiety can complicate the course and treatment of depression.
n Cognitive impairment can be both a risk factor and a symptom of depression.
n Older adults take multiple medications and their bodies handle the medications differently
than younger bodies. Drug interactions can cause serious medical problems.
n Small amounts of substance use can cause serious problems for older adults.
n Mental and physical functioning varies widely among older adults of the same age.
n Coordination and collaboration among mental health, aging, and general medical
practitioners is essential.
n Family members and other social supports are critical to successful treatment.
n Maintaining independence and aging in place are common values of older people.
n Ageism and stigma affect treatment access, expectations, and outcomes.
n Cultural differences can affect perceptions of depression, treatment preferences, and desired
treatment outcomes.
n Depression can be prevented.
n Older adult depression is associated with the highest rate of suicide.
n Psychotherapy can be as effective as medications.
When chronic physical illness occurs with
depression, physical illness can worsen the
course of depression and, conversely, depression
can worsen the course of physical illness. In
either case, you should provide coordinated
and integrated care for both depression and the
physical disorder. Approaches that neglect one
area at the expense of the other are unlikely to
be successful.
Physical disorders complicate the identification,
course, and treatment of depression. Therefore,
you should simultaneously evaluate physical
and mental causes of symptoms. Depression
shares symptoms with physical disorders such
as congestive heart failure and cancer. These
can include low energy, poor appetite, impaired
functioning, fatigue, irritability, and feelings of
hopelessness. A recent physical evaluation can
help you exclude potential physical causes or
contributors to symptoms of depression.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
12
Pactitioners’ Guide
You can help reduce an older adult’s anxiety
and improve the likelihood of treatment success
through these steps:
Assess and treat co-occurring depression and
physical disorders in a coordinated manner.
Evidence-based models of collaborative and
integrated care are an effective treatment
approach for such coordination.
n Explaining adverse effects of medications and
reassuring the older adult that you will be
available by phone if problems occur; and
n Providing intensive followup, particularly in
the early part of treatment when older adults
are most likely to drop out because of anxietyrelated medication intolerance.
Issue 2: Co-occurring anxiety can complicate
the course and treatment
of depression
Depression and anxiety commonly occur together
in older adults. About one-quarter to one-half of
older adults with major depression also have an
anxiety disorder. Older adults with mixed anxiety
and depression often have more severe symptoms
of depression, poorer social functioning, greater
use of health care services, more physical health
symptoms (for example, chest pain, headaches,
sweating, gastrointestinal problems), and more
thoughts of suicide. The presence of anxiety
with depression makes treatment more difficult
because there is an increased risk of missing the
diagnosis of depression, a more chronic course of
illness, and a greater likelihood that older adults
will not respond to treatment or withdraw early
from treatment.
Older adults with depression and anxiety are
more likely to stay in treatment if they are seen
frequently and are told that they should call
with any concerns related to treatment.
Issue 3: Cognitive impairment can be a risk
factor and a symptom of depression
Cognitive impairment (for example, memory loss,
disorientation, or confusion) is not an inevitable
part of aging. Instead, these problems may
be symptoms of a possible dementia, such as
Alzheimer’s disease. One in 10 adults aged 65 and
older and nearly half (47 percent) of adults aged
85 and older have Alzheimer’s disease. The second
most common cause of dementia is stroke or small
blood vessel disease in the brain (also known as
vascular dementia).
In addition, the prescription of anti-anxiety
medications known as benzodiazepines can worsen
symptoms of depression and increase the risk
for confusion and falls. You should periodically
assess older adults for possible reduction and
discontinuation of benzodiazepine medications to
minimize the risk for adverse effects (for example,
falls, hip fractures, impaired cognition, and
depressive symptoms).
Practitioners’ Guide
These cognitive impairment disorders are
associated with increased rates of depression.
For this reason, your assessment and treatment
of depression in older people should include
a formal evaluation of cognitive functioning.
Common measures for evaluating cognitive
functioning include the Mini-Mental State
Examination and the Mini-Cog. See Evaluating
Your Program in this KIT for more information
about these measures.
13
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Several medications for physical disorders can
cause, worsen, or mimic symptoms of depression.
For example, some medications used to treat high
blood pressure or endocrine disorders can cause
depression. Side effects of some medications also
can include low mood, decreased energy, poor
appetite, impaired concentration, lack of interest,
fatigue, agitation, and poor sleep.
Cognitive problems also can be a symptom of
depression. Depression can cause impairment in
memory, concentration, and executive functioning
(for example, planning, organizing, and initiating
purposeful behaviors). Successful treatment
of depression can often reverse the cognitive
problems associated with depression.
Severe cognitive impairment in an older adult can
affect treatment decisions. Older adults with severe
cognitive impairment may have a limited ability to
benefit from some psychotherapy interventions.
Some prescribed and over-the-counter medications
for common physical disorders can interact with
antidepressant medications, causing serious side
effects or toxicity. Side effects can include confusion,
increased chance of falls, and lower functioning and
can result in hospitalizations and even death. For
older adults taking multiple medications, you should
ask a pharmacist or prescribing practitioner to
review the person’s prescribed and over-the-counter
medications for potential adverse drug interactions
or impact on dosage levels.
Include a formal evaluation of cognitive
functioning when you assess and treat
depression in older adults.
Issue 4: Older adults take multiple
medications. Their bodies handle
the medications differently than
younger bodies because of normal
metabolic changes of aging
The high number of medications taken by older
adults also can lead to poor medication adherence
and medication self-administration errors.
You can increase the safety of older adults who
take multiple medications in these ways:
On average, older adults regularly consume two
to six prescription medications and one to three
over-the-counter medications. Notably, nearly twothirds of older adults with depression receive five
or more prescriptions, compared to only one-third
of older adults without depression. Physical and
cognitive changes associated with aging can make
older adults particularly vulnerable to medication
interactions and medication misuse.
n Reducing the complexity of scheduling times
to take medications;
n Recommending the use of medication
organizers; and
n Providing educational supports.
For more information about selecting and
prescribing antidepressant medications to older
adults, see Selecting Evidence-Based Practices
for Depression in Older Adults in this KIT.
Changes in body fat distribution and other
physical characteristics change the way that older
adults metabolize or break down medications and
psychoactive substances. An important principle of
treatment is to begin with low medication dosages
and increase dosages slowly, as necessary. Once
medications are started, it may take much longer
for the medication to be eliminated from an older
adult’s body compared to a younger adult’s body.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Ask a pharmacist or other prescribing
practitioner to review the older adult’s
prescribed and over-the-counter medications for
potential adverse drug interactions or impact on
dosage levels.
14
Pactitioners’ Guide
Alcohol and medication misuse and abuse can
make treatment of depression more difficult.
Compared to older adults with either depression
or a substance use disorder alone, those with both
disorders have more serious health and social
problems:
Issue 5: Small amounts of substance use can
cause serious problems for
older adults
Problems with either alcohol or medication
misuse (overuse, underuse, and irregular use of
medications) affect up to one-fifth of older adults.
n More symptoms of anxiety and more frequent
sleep disturbances;
Compared with younger people, older adults have
an increased sensitivity to alcohol, as well as to
over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Metabolic and physical changes in older adults
have implications for alcohol and medication
use. These age-related changes can increase the
circulating amount of alcohol in the body. Liver
enzymes that metabolize alcohol also become
less efficient with age. For some older adults,
ANY alcohol use with specific over-the-counter
or prescription medications can be problematic.
n Worse physical health;
n Lower quality of life;
n Lower perceived social support;
n Greater use of inpatient and outpatient services;
and
n Greater likelihood of thinking about or
attempting suicide.
Regular use of even small amounts of alcohol,
pain medications, or other psychoactive substances
can cause serious problems for older adults.
See Evaluating Your Program in this KIT for
information on instruments to assess substance
use in older adults.
Because of the age-related changes in how alcohol
is metabolized, and the potential interactions
between medications and alcohol, alcohol use
recommendations for older adults are generally
lower than those for adults under age 65.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (1995) and the Center for Substance
Abuse Treatment (CSAT) Treatment Improvement
Protocol on older adults recommend that adults
over age 65 drink no more than one standard drink
per day or seven drinks per week. In addition,
older adults should not consume more than two
drinks on any drinking day. A standard drink is the
equivalent of 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine,
or 1.5 ounces of brandy (Center for Substance
Abuse Treatment, 1998).
Practitioners’ Guide
Evaluate the older adult’s use of alcohol and
psychoactive substances. Treatment should
address both depression and substance
use problems.
15
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Issue 6: Mental and physical functioning
varies widely among older adults
of the same age
Issue 7: Coordination and collaboration
between mental health, aging,
and general medical health
practitioners is essential
Chronological age is not a good indicator of a
person’s physical and mental capacities. A wide
range of normal functioning exists in the 35-year
span between ages 65 and 100.
Older adults often benefit from services that are
provided by an array of health and social service
practitioners. For instance, an older adult may
receive diabetes management from a primary
care practitioner, bi-weekly medical checks from
a home health nurse, weekly home health aid
assistance with activities of daily living, daily
delivery of meals-on-wheels from an aging services
practitioner, and a medication visit every 3 months
for a memory-enhancing agent from a psychiatrist.
For older adults with depression, another layer
of complexity is added by the need to coordinate
antidepressant medications or psychotherapy with
the above-mentioned services.
As people age, variation among age groups
increases. For example, a 65-year-old person can
have the mental and physical functioning of an
85-year-old and vice versa.
Treating an older adult with depression requires
thinking beyond the person’s chronological age and
assessing his or her actual functional capacities.
This includes evaluating daily abilities to care
for oneself as well as social, physical, and mental
functioning that can change with age.
Older adults with depression often fail to receive
appropriate and effective treatment due to
fragmented service delivery systems. Treatment
typically occurs across discrete settings that
provide either mental health, aging, or general
medical health services. These settings can
include primary health care clinics, long-term care
facilities, and home and community-based care.
Evaluating and addressing functioning is the key
in developing treatment plans.
Evaluating and addressing functioning is the key
in developing treatment plans.
These different service systems often have
different financing, organization, and delivery
models with little or no collaboration among the
practitioners. The complexity of receiving care
from many practitioners in many settings often
leads to a lack of coordinated services.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
16
Pactitioners’ Guide
Integrated services can improve access,
coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness of care
for older adults with depression. This must occur
across mental health, aging, or general medical
health service settings and practitioners. Evidencebased models for integrating mental and physical
health treatment should be used to provide
effective depression treatment to older adults.
Issue 9: Maintaining independence and
aging in place are common values
of older adults
A common goal for many older adults is to remain
in their own homes or in supported community
settings as long as possible. Maintaining
independence contributes to healthy aging and
acts as a deterrent for depression. For many
older adults, the loss of independence associated
with living in a nursing home is a major fear
and concern.
Collaboration and integration of services should
occur across mental health, aging, or general
medical health services to provide the most
effective care for older adults with depression.
Treatment of depression should support the
independent community functioning goals of the
older adult. In some instances, this may require
a discussion with the older adult and family
members about the potential risks of continuing to
live alone or to live in the home when a supervised
setting may be safer.
Issue 8: Engagement of family members
and other social support is critical to
successful treatment
Many older adults receive support and informal
services from spouses, children, friends, neighbors
and other people. Family involvement may be
particularly important for support issues such as
providing transportation, helping with activities of
daily living, supporting adherence to prescribed
medications, and helping to negotiate the complex
system of health care and social services. Social
support can help offset the risk of developing
depression in older age.
You can support the older adult in his or her
desired living setting and lifestyle in these ways:
n Arranging for in-home health care, homemaker
services, home-delivered meals, and access to
transportation; and
n Installing medication distribution devices,
electronic help alert buttons, automated phone
check-ins, telemedicine monitoring devices, and
mechanical assistive devices for walking and
climbing stairs.
Family members and other social supports are
critical to successful treatment. Involve family
members in assessment and treatment planning to
improve the effectiveness of depression treatment,
so long as it is desired by the care recipient.
Take a preventive approach in supporting the
older adult in his or her desired living setting
and lifestyle.
When desired by the older adult, involve family
members and caregivers in assessment and
treatment planning.
Practitioners’ Guide
17
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Issue 10: Ageism and stigma affect
treatment access, expectations,
and outcomes
Issue 11: Cultural differences can affect
perceptions of depression,
access to treatment,
treatment preferences,
and treatment outcomes
It is common to hear the statement that
“depression is normal in older age.” Alternatively,
one hears “if I had all those losses and physical
health problems I’d be depressed, too.” These
views perpetuate the lack of recognition, diagnosis,
and treatment of depression in older adults.
Cultural and ethnic differences affect older adults’
understanding of depression, feelings of stigma,
and incentives to seek and engage in treatment.
Different racial and ethnic minority groups
approach and understand treatment for depression
in different ways. For example, older AfricanAmericans often seek a remedy for depression
through their spiritual communities. Older Asian
Americans tend to perceive more stigma from
needing or using mental health services than
older Caucasian or African American adults. Asian
Americans also tend to focus on physical problems,
rather than emotional problems, and their use
of formal mental health services is relatively low.
Latino older adults may report problems with
their nerves, which is an indicator of anxiety or
depression in their culture, yet it is not a diagnostic
symptom of depression.
The societal stigma placed on depression can
discourage older adults from seeking treatment
because they may feel ashamed, that it is
their fault, or that they should be able to help
themselves feel better.
Only about half of older adults with any mental
health disorder receive treatment (Klap, Unroe,
& Unützer, 2003). Recognizing ageism and stigma
is a critical component of effective depression
treatment. Important strategies for reducing
ageism and stigma include the following:
n Educating the public about mental health and
aging issues; and
n Educating and empowering older adults about
Cultural expressions and understanding of
depression in older adults can serve as barriers
to developing and delivering effective treatment
if they are not addressed by practitioners.
Some ethnic groups may not readily disclose
information related to depression and you may
need a different approach to interact with them
and encourage them to speak up. Training in
cultural competency will help you deliver effective
depression treatment.
treating their depression.
Recognizing and addressing ageism and
stigma is a critical component of effective
depression treatment.
Finally, EBPs for depression in older adults have
typically been studied in populations that lack
diversity. Very little research has included enough
representation of racial and ethnic minority groups.
Older adults from racial and ethnic minority
groups have more health and social disparities than
Caucasian older adults.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
18
Pactitioners’ Guide
These issues, along with different perceptions of
depression and treatment seeking behavior, may
change the effectiveness of an EBP for older adults
from racial and ethnic minority groups. However,
the prevailing approach is to assume that if the
EBP works for one group of older adults, it should
work for another group.
Issue 13: Older adult depression is
associated with the highest rate
of suicide
Older adults with untreated depression,
particularly those who are isolated and have had
recent losses, are at high risk for suicide. The rate
of suicide among older adults is higher than that
for any other age group. The vast majority of older
adults who complete suicide are males, especially
white males (Miniño, Arias, Kochanek, Murphy, &
Smith, 2002; National Center for Injury Prevention
and Control, 2008).
Receive training in cultural competence and
provide culturally appropriate care for older
adults with depression.
Prevention of suicide in older adults is of special
importance for several reasons. Older adults are
less likely to report suicidal ideation compared
to younger adults, and suicide attempts are more
likely to be deliberate and lethal. Compared to
younger adults, older adults make fewer attempts
per suicide (Heisel and Duberstein, 1995).
Issue 12: Depression can be prevented
Prevention is not limited to the young. You should
identify older adults who are at risk for developing
depression and encourage them to participate in
effective preventive interventions. Older adults
who are at risk for depression include those who
have been recently bereaved or who have had
recent disabling physical health problems. Loss
of vision, a recent stroke, or loss of the ability
to walk can be associated with an increased risk
for depression.
It is common for older adults who complete
suicide to visit a primary care practitioner very
close to the time of suicide, yet not disclose their
suicide intentions. More than half (58 percent) of
older adults (over age 55) contact their primary
care practitioner within 1 month of completing
suicide. In contrast, only 11 percent of older adults
contact a mental health practitioner within one
month of completing suicide (Luoma, Martin, &
Pearson, 2002). Primary care practitioners should
be particularly aware of the need to identify and
provide treatment to older adults with thoughts
of suicide.
Existing programs, such as problem-solving
treatment and regular exercise, can help prevent
the onset of a depressive disorder in some
older adults.
When appropriate, encourage older adults
who are at risk for depression to participate
in a program of problem-solving treatment or
regular exercise.
Practitioners’ Guide
19
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
You should carefully assess suicide risk in older
adults with depression and implement appropriate
precautions and interventions. Screening for
depression, psychoeducation, telephone-based
support, and group-based activities can reduce the
rate of suicide among older adults. Providing EBPs
for treating depression can reduce thoughts of
death and suicide.
Issue 14: Psychotherapy can be as effective
as medications
Psychotherapy for older adult depression is
effective. However, adaptations and modifications
may be necessary, particularly in older adults with
cognitive impairment. Important modifications
include repetition, breaking down tasks into
smaller components, and other individually
tailored changes.
You can access more information on suicide
prevention strategies through the Suicide
Prevention Resource Center: http://www.sprc.org/
Short treatment with therapies such as cognitive
behavioral therapy or problem-solving treatment
can be very effective for older adults with
depression. For some older adults with major
depression, the combination of antidepressant
medication and psychotherapy is more effective
than either approach alone. For older adults with
minor depression, psychotherapy may be more
effective than medications and is the treatment
of choice.
Assess suicide risk in older adults
with depression and implement
appropriate interventions.
Tailor psychotherapy interventions to address the
cognitive, physical, and sensory needs of older
adults (for example, repetition and breaking
tasks into smaller components). Consider
whether the combination of psychotherapy and
antidepressant medications will be effective for
the older adult.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
20
Pactitioners’ Guide
Steps You Can Take
n Assess and treat co-occurring depression and physical disorders in a coordinated and
integrated manner.
n Offer more frequent practitioner appointments and contact to older adults with co-occurring
depression and anxiety.
n Include a formal evaluation of cognitive functioning when you assess and treat depression
in older adults.
n Ask a pharmacist or other prescribing practitioner to review the older adult’s prescribed and over-
the-counter medications for potential adverse drug interactions or impact on dosage levels.
n Evaluate the older adult’s use of alcohol and psychoactive substances. Treatment should address
both depression and substance use problems.
n Evaluate and address functioning, which is key in developing treatment plans.
n Ensure that collaboration and integration of services occur across mental health, aging, or general
medical health services to provide the most effective care for older adults with depression.
n When desired by the older adult, involve family members and caregivers in assessment and
treatment planning.
n Take a preventive approach in supporting the older adult in his or her desired living setting
and lifestyle.
n Recognize and address issues of ageism and stigma.
n Receive training in cultural competence and provide culturally appropriate care for older adults
with depression.
n When appropriate, encourage older adults who are at risk for depression to participate in a
program of problem-solving treatment or regular exercise.
n Assess suicide risk in older adults with depression and implement appropriate interventions.
n Tailor psychotherapy interventions to address the cognitive, physical, and sensory needs of older
adults. Consider whether the combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medications will
be effective for the older adult.
Practitioners’ Guide
21
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Identify characteristics of your older
adults and what services are needed
Evaluating Care
You can use outcome data to provide feedback
to older adults. This information can be useful in
discussions about the effectiveness of treatment
and whether treatment goals are being met.
Several characteristics of older adults affect the
delivery and effectiveness of programs to treat
depression. Gender, age, ethnicity, and health
status can influence health beliefs and behaviors
and affect how older adults access and respond
to depression care.
Monitoring the symptoms of depression in
your older adults will help you determine the
effectiveness of treatment. If the symptoms of
depression do not improve after an appropriate
course of treatment, it may be time to change your
approach and reconsider other treatment options.
You can be particularly helpful in identifying
the gaps in agency services for older adults with
depression by taking these steps:
n Identifying priority problem areas for your older
adult population;
For helpful ideas for collecting and evaluating data,
see Evaluating Your Program in this KIT.
n Identifying what existing services can address
these identified areas; and
n Identifying new programs that may fill
Implementing EBPs
remaining gaps in the services that your
agency provides.
Implementing an EBP can help improve the care
that your organization provides to older adults. You
have an important role in creating these system
changes and helping to develop plans for providing
a new EBP. You can support the implementation of
a new program in these ways:
For suggestions on how to match EBPs with the
characteristics of your older adult population and
your organization, see Selecting Evidence-Based
Practices for Treatment of Depression in Older
Adults in this KIT.
n Identifying the characteristics of the older adults
you serve and what services are needed;
n Providing recommendations to supervisors
or program administrators;
n Participating in an implementation task force
or advisory board;
n Receiving training, supervision, and ongoing
coaching in the new practice; and
n Using data to monitor and provide feedback
on the effectiveness of the program.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
22
Pactitioners’ Guide
Provide recommendations to supervisors
or program administrators
Receive training, supervision, and
ongoing co aching in the new practice
After you have identified a program that may be
beneficial to your organization and the older adults
you care for, you may wish to begin discussions
with your supervisor or program administrator.
You should expect to receive training, supervision,
and ongoing coaching to ensure that you provide
the EBP in the correct manner. You also should
receive support for training in aging and geriatrics.
Be prepared to describe the following:
Training is essential to successfully implement
any EBP. Most practitioners are introduced to the
knowledge and skills needed to incorporate EBPs
into their own work with older adults through
preservice training, inservice training, and other
continuing education.
n The characteristics of the program;
n The areas that the program could improve;
n The fit between the program and the mission
of your organization;
n The resources necessary to implement the
Helpful learning methods include the following:
program; and
n Participating in case conferences;
n The evidence supporting the new program.
n Modeling of interventions by a trainer
or consultant; and
This KIT provides some of this information in the
booklet on Selecting Evidence-Based Practices for
Treatment of Depression in Older Adults.
n Job shadowing at model sites.
Participate in an advisory board
The most valuable trainings include a
demonstration of skills necessary for carrying
out an intervention, immediately followed by an
opportunity to practice skills and receive feedback.
Most organizations that choose to implement a
new practice will develop an advisory board or
an implementation task force. An advisory board
may include practitioners, agency and program
administrators, older adults and their family
members or caregivers, community members, and
other important stakeholders.
Skill-based training may be of particular
importance if you are new to working with
older adults. A lack of training or experience
working with older adults can interfere with your
ability to communicate or work effectively with
this population.
If your agency develops an advisory board, you
can offer to participate. The advisory board can
help guide how the EBP fits with the culture of
the organization and can identify what changes the
organization can make to adopt the new practice.
Practitioners’ Guide
23
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
The importance of training practitioners to care for
older adults, especially those with depression, was
listed as a priority by the White House Conference
on Aging (2005). In addition to specific skills
needed to implement EBPs, practitioners who care
for older adults need training in these key areas:
Supervisor or coach support
Ideally, training will be accompanied by setaside time for ongoing supervision from trained
practitioners within the agency.
Ongoing supervision and coaching will help you
develop and maintain newly learned skills. Once
the initial training is completed, you should have
routine and ongoing feedback to ensure that the
specific EBP is delivered with fidelity. Retraining
exercises can reinforce your behaviors and correct
problems that result from misinterpretation or
poor application of programs. Coaching helps
incorporate formal learning with clinical expertise
in ways that will help you see how new skills apply
to your individual practice.
n Addressing issues that are common or unique
to older adults and
n Recognizing, assessing, and treating depression
in older adults.
Agency training
At least some portion of your training in the new
EBP will be provided by the agency for which you
work. Agency training often includes instructions
for incorporating the new practice into existing
work activities and organizational practices.
Accessing training manuals
and technical assistance
Sometimes agencies will send one of their
practitioners to receive training in the new EBP.
However, simply attending a single workshop is
not adequate for mastering an EBP. Practicing
the EBP through roleplaying, experience-based
learning, and ongoing supervision is critical. Once
the EBP is mastered, trained practitioners can
then train their colleagues.
The availability of training resources varies for
the different EBPs for depression in older adults.
Some programs offer comprehensive training
resources. Some provide manuals for how to
deliver the intervention. Other programs may
offer no support for training practitioners.
For a description of available training resources
and program manuals, see Selecting EvidenceBased Practices for Treatment of Depression in
Older Adults in this KIT.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
24
Pactitioners’ Guide
By monitoring standardized outcome measures,
you can determine an older adult’s progress toward
desired treatment outcomes. You may already be
using standardized outcome measures. If not, you
may need support from your supervisor or agency
administrators and assistance from your quality
assurance or information technology teams to
institute these measures.
Use data to monitor and provide feedback
on the effectiveness of the program
You have an important role in assessing both the
effectiveness of the implementation process and
the effectiveness of the EBP for the older adult.
Data collected over several time points will
help you provide feedback and identify the
strengths and weaknesses of a program.
Evaluations of process and outcome measures
can help you monitor the effectiveness of
program implementation.
By continuously monitoring the effectiveness
of an EBP for older adults, you can assess how
well the EBP has been implemented. If outcome
monitoring does not show improvements among
older adults who receive the treatment, this may
be a sign that the EBP is not fully or appropriately
implemented, or that the selected intervention
was inappropriate for the older adult. When
aggregated, these data can indicate whether
there are issues at the program level related to
EBP implementation.
One of the most important reasons that health care
organizations support using EBPs for older adults
with depression is that these treatments reduce
symptoms of depression. This means that, if the
EBP is implemented correctly, it should result in
fewer symptoms of depression among older adults
who receive the treatment.
If you recognize problems with implementation,
you should work with your colleagues, supervisor,
coach, and administrators to evaluate the
components of the program and determine where
improvements are needed.
Sometimes you can use specific process measures
called fidelity instruments to evaluate whether
you are providing the program in a way that is
consistent with the core features of the EBP.
When fidelity instruments are not available, you
can answer other questions to assess the quality
of implementation.
Practitioners’ Guide
For helpful ideas for collecting and evaluating data,
see Evaluating Your Program in this KIT.
25
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Steps You Can Take
n Know the characteristics of older adults who receive treatment at your health care setting or
organization and identify common problem areas that they wish to address.
n Identify existing resources that address problem areas.
n Identify additional programs or resources that are needed to address these areas.
n Recommend adopting a specific EBP to your supervisor or program administrator.
n Help guide the process of implementing an EBP by participating on an advisory board.
n Work with agency administrators and program leaders to develop the needed supports for EBP
implementation.
n Learn new skills to provide effective depression treatment to older adults.
n Monitor process and outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of implementation
and treatment.
The Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
26
Pactitioners’ Guide
HHS Publication No. SMA-11-4631
Printed 2011
29938.0611.8712010402
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