News

Study finds depression common among Canadian seniors in residential care

May 20, 2010

By Patricia Nicholson

Depression or depressive symptoms affect 44 per cent of seniors living in residential care facilities, according to new research from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

In a study of 49,089 adults ages 65 and over who were living in nursing homes, long-term care or other residential care facilities, 26 per cent of these residents had been diagnosed with depression and another 18 per cent had symptoms of depression.

The study also found that compared to people with no symptoms of depression, people with depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to experience social problems such as conflict with residential care staff, very aggressive behaviour or withdrawal from activities. They were also more likely to have unstable medical conditions, pain and sleep disturbances, and to be less self-sufficient than people with no symptoms of depression.

To screen for depressive symptoms, the researchers used a depression rating scale that summarizes seven features of depression: negative statements, persistent anger, unrealistic fears, repetitive health complaints, repetitive anxiety complaints, sad or worried facial expressions, and tearfulness. People with three or more of these were classified as having depressive symptoms, and people with two or fewer were classified as not having symptoms.

Fewer than five per cent of people with symptoms of depression were receiving psychological therapy. However, symptomatic people with a diagnosis of depression were almost twice as likely to receive antidepressant medication as those with symptoms but no diagnosis.

The study population was predominantly (about 70 per cent) women, and the average age was 85. The study included 550 residential care facilities in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.

These findings indicate the need to identify seniors in residential care who are depressed or at risk for depression, and highlights the poor social, medical and functional effects associated with depressive symptoms. The study was released on May 20, 2010 and is available from CIHI’s website.

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