Late life Depression

Definition Etiology Clinical manifestation Nursing intervention Medical intervention Nursing diagnosis
 Depression can  Health  Sadness or  Assess Antihypertensive and  Disturbed
happen to any problems. feelings of attention span cardiac drugs Thought
of us as we age, Illness and despair and ability to  B blockers Process Related
regardless of disability,  Unexplained or make decisions.  Digoxin to Later-life
our background chronic or aggravated aches  Check ability to  Procainamide depression
or severe pain, and pains send, receive,  Guanethidine
achievements. cognitive  Loss of interest and interpret  Clonidine
And the decline, in socializing or information  Riserpine
symptoms of damage to your hobbies  Protect the  Methyldopa
elderly body image due  Weight loss or patient from  Spironolactone
depression can to surgery or loss of appetite sensory Hormones
affect every sickness can all  Feelings of overload and  Corticotropin
aspect of your be contributors hopelessness or allow for  Corticosteroids
life, impacting to depression. helplessness frequent rest  Estrogens
your energy,  Lack of periods. CNS depressants
appetite, sleep,  Loneliness and motivation and  Encourage Anti-anxiety agents
and interest in isolation. energy memories and psychotopics
work, hobbies, Factors such as  Sleep discussion of
and living alone, a disturbances past events.
relationships. dwindling (difficulty
 It’s important to social circle falling asleep or
realize that due to deaths or staying asleep,  Monitor patient  Risk for
depression isn’t relocation, oversleeping, or closely and Suicide related
an inevitable decreased daytime provide suicide to depression
part of getting mobility due to sleepiness) precautions
older nor is it a illness or a loss  Loss of self-  Attempt to
sign of of driving worth (worries provide one on
weakness or a privileges can about being a one supervision
character flaw. trigger burden, feelings of patient if
It can happen to depression. of worthlessness possible
anyone, at any or self-loathing)  Use non-
age, no matter  Reduced sense  Slowed judgemental
your of purpose. movement or attitude in
background or Retirement can speech dealing with
your previous bring with it a  Increased use of patient
accomplishment loss of identity, alcohol or other  Provide time to
s in life. While status, self- drugs discuss
life’s changes confidence, and  Fixation on situation with
as you age such financial death; thoughts patient, express
as retirement, security and of suicide understanding,
the death of increase the  Memory but do not
loved ones, risk of problems reinforce denial
declining health depression.  Neglecting of current
can sometimes Physical personal care situation
trigger limitations on (skipping meals,
depression, they activities you forgetting meds,  assess patient  Distorted
don’t have to used to enjoy neglecting for depressive Thought
keep you down. can also impact personal behaviours, Control
No matter what your sense of hygiene) causative
challenges you purpose. agents, and
face as you age, orient patient to
there are steps  Fears. These reality as
you can take to include a fear warranted.
feel happy and of death or
hopeful once dying as well as  Use non-
again and enjoy anxiety over judgemental
your golden financial attitude toward
years. problems or patient and
health issues. actively listen
to his , feelings
 Recent and concerns
bereavements.
The death of  Identify
friends, family patient’s
members, and medications
pets, or the loss currently being
of a spouse or taken
partner are
common causes  Assess patient’s
of depression in level of
older adults. orientation

 Provide care for  Ineffective

patient using coping related
same personnel to depression
whenever
possible

 Provide
uninterrupted
time to be spent
with patient,
and encourage
him/her to
express feelings
and concerns

 Assist only
when
necessary.
Offer positive
feedback for
independent
behaviour

 Encourage
patient to make
choices about
his/her care