[Screening for depression and anxiety in residential homes for the elderly]

Elderly persons in residential homes in the Netherlands are at high risk for developing major depressive and anxiety disorders. A stepped-care protocol being used in a study for vulnerable elderly in the community may also be feasible and effective for this group. A pilot study in a residential home in Amsterdam showed more problems than expected in screening and motivating the inhabitants for this intervention protocol. This article describes the problems in our screening procedure. A personal approach, performed by familiar persons, directed at the more independent inhabitants is most likely to succeed. The need for research on effectiveness and feasibility of evidence based methods in residential care remains evident. However, the more vulnerable inhabitants need something else. For this group of inhabitants we need to look more closely to the needs and possibilities by conducting research using a qualitative design.