This article from Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing outlines and describes the nursing assessment and care parameters for dealing with a patient suffering from depression.

Background

A. Depression, both major depressive disorders and minor depression, is highly prevalent in community-dwelling, medically-ill, and institutionalized older adults.

B. Depression is not a natural part of aging or a normal reaction to acute illness hospitalization.

C. Consequences of depression include amplification of pain and disability, delayed recovery from illness and surgery, worsening of drug side effects, excess use of health services, cognitive impairment, subnutrition, and increased suicide- and nonsuicide-related death.

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