During a health history, the nurse wants to include an assessment of depression with an older patient. What statements will the nurse use to make this assessment? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Standard Text: Select all that apply

Question

1. "How often do you go out to socialize with friends?"
2. "Explain your self-care activities."
3. "How much alcohol do you consume every day?"
4. "How is living with your oldest daughter and her family working out for you?"
5. "Are you feeling depressed?"

Answer 1

1,2,3,4
Rationale 1: This question would assess if the patient is reluctant to leave the home, which can indicate depression in the older adult.
Rationale 2: Depression may cause the patient to lack interest in personal appearance. Information about this feeling may be elicited by asking about self-care activities.
Rationale 3: In some cases, the older patient may overuse alcohol or combine it with other medications that are depressants, which can further impact depression.
Rationale 4: Factors that contribute to depression in the older patient include the need to move in with other family members because of health status or finances.
Rationale 5: Depression is greatly underdiagnosed among older patients. One reason is the reluctance to admit depression because it can be seen as a sign of weakness or an inability to care for oneself. Asking patients directly if they feel depressed is not likely to elicit the desired information.
Global Rationale: Asking about socialization would assess if the patient is reluctant to leave the home, which can indicate depression in the older adult. Depression may cause the patient to lack interest in personal appearance. Information about this feeling may be elicited by asking about self-care activities. In some cases, the older patient may overuse alcohol or combine it with other medications that are depressants, which can further impact depression. Factors that contribute to depression in the older patient include the need to move in with other family members because of health status or finances. Depression is greatly underdiagnosed among older patients. One reason is the reluctance to admit depression because it can be seen as a sign of weakness or an inability to care for oneself. Asking patients directly if they feel depressed is not likely to elicit the desired information.