1. Fairfield University School of Nursing ELDER Project
Best Practices in Care for Older Adults Nursing Assistants Session 2 Topic: Depression, Delirium and Dementia
Fairfield University School of Nursing
ELDER Project

2. Depression in Older Adults
What is it?
A disease with:
Mood changes (sadness)
Trouble thinking
Feelings of loss or guilt
Physical changes
Sometimes thought of harming self

3. Different Kinds of Depression
May have mild depression with a few symptoms
May have major depression which is the most common and can last a long time if untreated
May have short term depression because of something that just happened (loss of a spouse). This is normal grief.

4. What can you do?
We need to help older adults to understand that depression is not a weakness
Depression is a disease just like high blood pressure!
Encourage them to talk to their doctor or nurse about it

5. Most Common Symptoms of Depression
Sadness, Crying
Trouble Concentrating
Forgetful- May look like dementia
Acting out
Not interested in activities/hobbies
Change in appetite (more or less)
Change in sleep (more or less)

6. What can you do? Allow your patients to talk about their feelings
Don’t ignore their feelings
Encourage them to stay involved in activities
If on medications:
Watch for falls, dizziness, confusion, changes in blood pressure

7. Topic: Delirium Sudden change in patient’s behavior
Not permanent, can be cured
Sometimes from
Medications
Sensory Overload
Medical Illness

8. Most at risk for delirium:
Those who have fallen and fractured their hip

9. What can you do? Report changes in behavior immediately to the nurse
Keep yourself and the patient safe

10. Topic: Topic: Dementia Mental Status Changes in Older Adults
60% of nursing home residents have dementia
Dementia is: a major loss of intellectual abilities such as memory. severe enough to change ability to work or socialize.

11. What you might see: Changes in dressing, grooming, eating
Not knowing who they are, where they are, what time or day it is
Changes in mood
Changes in memory
Changes in judgment
Changes come on slowly over time

12. What is Dementia? Changes in : Language Memory Motion and Function
Personality
Judgment
Usually irreversible

13. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
AD is one type of dementia
About ½ of all dementia patients have AD
Don’t know what triggers it

14. What can you do? Keep the same routine Allow them to rest
Speak slowly and clearly
Make eye contact
Limit choices

15. What can you do? Keep the person as independent as possible
Make simple changes to help them function at as high a level as possible
You don’t need to correct them, sometimes it is ok to agree with them

16. Reference The content covered in this presentation is provided by the
John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing (2001, 2003)
Some of the material in this presentation obtained from graciously shared by:
Mather’s LifeWays, 2003