Prominence of Depression in Nursing Homes

Indianapolis, IN

Depression, which is more than just ordinary sadness, is considered a common problem in nursing homes. Even though depression is a treatable disorder, studies have shown that it is not frequently diagnosed in nursing home residents. The purpose of this research is to see if depression occurs in this setting and what demographic and social factors play into residents displaying such symptoms. The first phase of this research involves the distribution of the Geriatric Depression Scale survey to residents in nursing homes who are willing and competent to complete it. Residents who are not able to write or provide a verbal response will not be included in this research. This includes residents who have dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The final phase of this project involves analysis of the completed surveys and the organization of demographic and social factors into a graph or chart. By identifying that depression is more common in residents than currently reported, the hope for this research is that depression in nursing homes will be further investigated for residents who display symptoms.