According to a recent article in Home Healthcare Nurse entitled “Diabetes, Depression, and OASIS-C: A Guide for Home Healthcare Clinicians”, among the population 65 years and older, one in six suffers from depression and this is especially true among elderly adults who receive home care. Identifying depression in the home bound elderly and effectively treating it may be key to decreasing their hospitalization rates and associated health and financial costs. This is so important since the effects of depression can send the elderly adult down a path of negative complications. Agencies should use a special Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) to screen for depression in home care patients. Emphasis should be on the elderly depression in the patient with diabetes.
Depression Higher in Adult Diabetics
An additional finding that has some serious implications for our aging population is that research indicates depression is higher among adults with diabetes than the general population. In fact, diabetics are twice as likely to suffer from depression. Under the best of circumstances, our senior citizens have increased chronic and acute diseases; with the interplay of diabetes and depression the rate of mortality, cardiac problems, diabetes related problems, functional impairment as well as hospitalizations increase. A significant reduction in the overall quality of life ensues. This is largely due to the resulting combination of events of poor self care, functional impairment and significant nutritional issues.
Depression is Treatable
Depression is a very treatable condition. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene research has shown that 70% to 80% of patients respond well to treatment and good medical care.
As an essential start, before this issue can be adequately addressed, professionals must be consulted. The patient must be seen by trained nurses and clinicians and a medical doctor should screen for any endocrine disorders. After other medical issues have been ruled out, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has mandated using a new diagnostic assessment tool. This is a PHQ-9 questionnaire which is a validated instrument used to screen for depression in home care patients with Type 2 diabetes. The questionnaire is an upgrade from the one formerly used. It measures the physical symptoms of depression as well as the level of interest in activity and mood. With a score of 3 or higher, the patient is referred to a clinician by the home healthcare team.
Training a home healthcare provider to recognize symptoms of depression will greatly increase the prospect of its treatment. Especially true in Type 2 diabetics and home bound elderly patients where its prevalence is so much higher. Cooperation and communication between all the healthcare disciplines is essential in order to achieve successful diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.
David York Home Healthcare Agency is attuned to signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly. We are eager to be an active player in the treatment plan of the total elderly caregiver team. Please call us at (718) 376-7755 or visit our website at https://davidyorkhomehealthcare.com/. You could also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
