Essay On Depression Among The Elderly

Depression is among the risk factors affecting many people especially the elderly in the U.S. Depression leads to mental illness among the elderly in addition to other negative effects of depression are failure of body functionality, high health care costs, poor quality of life and unfavorable health outcomes. Currently, the population of the citizens aged 65 and above is at least 12 percent in America. The population is expected to grow to one-fifth by the years 2030. The projected population growth among the elderly requires a lot of attention since mental problems resulting from depression are likely to increase as well. Although depression affect many elderly people, it remains under-treated and under-recognized in the country (CDC, 2009).
Depression impair a person’s ability to work, function independently, negative economic implication to victims and their families, results to poor health outcome as well as social stigma. Depression also causes family suffering and disruption especially where the victim was a single bread winner. Without proper treatment, depression affects the ability of achieving an elderly life among the older people (CDC, 2008). The analysis presents depression as a threat to social and economic wellbeing not only to the individuals but to the states as well. Both the Federal and State government have to fund

agencies and hospitals in the attempt to curb the depression problem. Such funds could be used towards economic development activities (Beekman, Deeg, & Braam, 2007).
Describe the scope of this problem/issue, e.g.; percent of the population
According to the statistics and facts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9 percent of the U.S. population suffer from different forms of depression. Likewise, among the 9 percent, 3 percent suffer from major depression disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), women have a 70 percent likelihood to suffer from depression in lifetimes compared to men. The research by NIMH showed that the contributing factors for depression prevalence among women are: a) high hormone levels, b) risk factors increases after pregnancy, during menopause and during menstruation. According to CDC the depression rates have dramatically risen in the U.S for the past 60 years. According to a research by The American Journal of Psychiatry, major depression rates among the older citizens had increased to 7.06 % from 3.33% between 1991 and 2012. The research suggested that depression ought to be considered as an epidemic. According to WHO, 5% of the population globally suffer from depression (CDC, 2009).
4 to 6% of the Older Americans suffer from a form of depression known as Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 2.6 percent are affected by bipolar type of depression while 5% of the adults suffering from major depression are also affected by psychotic depression. According to NIMH, depression is a major contributing factors to other health implications. For instance, depression affects: a) 40 % of those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; b) 255 of cancer patients; c) 27% of substance abusers; d) 50% of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease; e) 50-75% of adults suffering from eating disorders and f) 33 % of heart attack patients. Likewise, many studies have established that depression is high among the separated, widowed, or divorced adults (CDC, 2009).
In accordance to race, the African-Americans are at a higher risks of suffering from lifetime depression compared to the Whites. 12.8% of the African- Americans currently suffer from depression. The Hispanic follows the Blacks at 11.4% while depression among the Whites currently stand at 7.9%. A comparison of states showed that the states with high levels of depression include Mississippi, Alabama and West Virginia. Those with the lowest depression rates are North Dakota, Alaska, Minnesota and Lowa. The prevalence ranges between 4.8% in North Dakota (the lowest) and 14.8 % in Mississippi (the highest) in 2010. Depression is a major cause of suicidal cases in the U.S. as well. In 30,000 suicidal cases registered each year in America, two-third are caused by depression. Most of the suicidal cases are committed by the elderly people who are at least 85 years and suffering from depressive illness (Snowden & Steinman L, 2008).
Describe the relevance to elder care or administration/leadership of the topic, issue, or problem
The importance of leadership in managing depression among the elderly is an essential component to this social problem.

Leadership is important towards providing depression treatment programs, creating productive working environment and providing good care to the patients. Many governmental agencies and Non-Government Organization have staged campaigns in the fight against the increased depression level among the elderly. One of the remedies used to educate the public on depression is lifestyle change. There are several methods of life changes that have been established at the elderly care centers (Beekman, Deeg, & Braam,

2007).
First, exercise is a must among the people. Both resistance training and aerobic exercise help the depression patients to improve their mood stability. Aerobic exercises raise the level of chemicals like adrenaline, endorphins, dopamine and serotonin in the brain; this chemicals are responsible in providing mood stability. Second, elderly home train depression patients on sleep hygiene or techniques. Sleep techniques helps in reducing the occurrence of insomnia among the elderly. Third, Patients suffering from depression are encouraged to take healthy meals that are rich in fresh fruits, whole grains and vegetables (Kobau, 2010). The patients have to maintain healthy diets especially when they are under medication. Consumption of tobacco and alcohol should be reduced. Lastly, social support is an integral factor to the treatment of depression among the elderly. Leadership of elderly care homes highly recommend visits and outings with loved ones and friends. Social support provides motivation to the patients and positive response for medication (Beekman, Deeg, & Braam, 2007).
However, elderly homes monitor closely when family and friends visit patients with depression to ensure that all the information shared in healthy and positive towards recovery. Depression programs encourages on the need to educate family members and friends about antidepressant and depression medications. In short, the public through government agencies and NGOs, should be involved in planning, implementing and executing programs aimed at addressing depression among the elderly. Public role is a necessity towards providing appropriate managerial/ leadership skills (Kobau, 2010).
Managerial/Leadership Implications
Irrespective of the role played by managerial/ leadership skills, there are numerous challenges faced in mitigating depression among the elderly. First, there is an ever changing healthcare environment resulting from technological development, changes in policies, regulations, political and legislation context. As result, programs created to encounter depression among the elderly have to be changed from time to time without first achieving their intend objectives (CDC, 2009). This is also post challenges to the fresh psychiatrists, nurses and psychologists from colleges. All these challenges rose in the midst of economic downturn which have negatively affected the financial allocation by Federal and State governments. Financial implication have affected patient satisfaction towards providing quality management and depression program monitoring (CDC, 2008).
Depression homes should integrate ethical leadership, sustainable budgets and quality management to enhance patient satisfaction, improve service delivery, minimize operational costs and reduce errors and delays in service delivery to depression patients. It is sensible and logical to apply various leadership opportunities, involve different professionals and mentors in developing trusting and collaborative relationships with all the stakeholders to achieve exceptional results (Beekman, Deeg, & Braam, 2007).
What role does the administrator play in addressing this issue?
One of the government agencies that have been in the forefront in addressing depression among the elderly is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agencies has put tremendous effort to integrate public role in health and mental health. Through its program on the aging citizens, CDC have succeeded in linking aging service network with the public health departments. CDC’s role in depression and mental diseases affecting the elderly include: a) collecting data that is used in monitoring how depression affect the older adults; b) assisting states to assess depression data on their residences; c) collecting evidence on the effective community- based depression programs; and d) developing evidence-based depression programs and intervention mechanisms towards treating patients and maintain a healthy outlook (CDC, 2009).
CDC is also involved in educating the public towards monitoring depression within the population. Public health education is aimed at developing, testing, and starting programs aimed at addressing depression among the elderly. Public education also prepares stakeholders towards working together with the mental health and aging service providers to reach the elderly and depressed people (Snowden & Steinman L, 2008).

References
Beekman, A., Deeg, D., & Braam, A. (2007). Consequences of major and minor depression in later life: a study of disability, well-being and service utilization. Psychol Med , 27:1397–1409.
CDC. ( 2009). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AARP, American Medical Association. Retrieved from Promoting preventive services for adults 50–64: community and clinical partnerships: at www.cdc.gov/aging
CDC. (2008). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. Retrieved from The state of mental health and aging in America Issue Brief 1: what do the data tell us?: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MAHA/MahaHome.aspx
Kobau, R. (2010). Attitudes about mental illness and its treatment: validation of a generic scale for public health surveillance of mental illness associated stigma. Community Ment Health, 46(2):164-76.
Snowden , M., & Steinman L, L. (2008). Treating depression in older adults: challenges to implementing the recommendations of an expert panel. Retrieved from Prev Chronic Dis: www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2008/jan/07_0154.htm