The importance of screening for depression in home care patients

The home care population is especially vulnerable to depression, yet a recent study showed that home care nurses are not well equipped to identify the signs and symptoms of depression (Brown et al., 2003). Probable causes include lack of training and support for home care nurses combined with passivity and embarrassment about depression among elderly patients. Depression is treatable; however, when left undiagnosed it causes patient suffering, increased likelihood of adverse events, and higher medical costs. Home care agencies can support their nurses to better recognize the signs and symptoms of depression through education and increased awareness of the prevalence and complexity of depression in the home care population. Furthermore, with the aid of screening questions already included in the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS), agencies can identify patients at risk of depression and refer them to necessary and beneficial mental health services.