Question

Mrs Williams is an 81year –old woman. She has been increasingly widrawn and disengaged. Her appetite has declined and she has lost 15 pounds .Her primary care provider recommended a course of antidepressant treatment in order to boost up her energy and mood.

Mrs Williams took the medication for two weeks and stopped. What can be done to increase the use of depression treatment in older adults? What can be done to increase the use of depression treatment in older adults?What information could be most useful for Mrs.Williams?

Answer 1

For increasing the use of depression treatment in older adults we should make use of sessions of healthcare education by a nurse and psychotherapy by a psychologist. The nurse can educate Mrs. Williams that she is suffering from depression and if left untreated it could lead to stress and its associated medical complications such as hypertension, diabetes, and even suicidal thoughts. The psychologist can counsel her using family therapy to ensure she takes her medication due to the intervention of the family.