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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Informal caregiving to older adults hospitalized for depression | | Author(s) | N L Morrow-Howell, E K Proctor |
| Journal title | Aging & Mental Health, vol 2, no 3, August 1998 |
| Pages | pp 222-231 |
| Source | http://www.tandfonline.com |
| Keywords | Depression ; Discharge [hospitals] ; Family care. |
| Annotation | There is a paucity of information about informal care to older people with depression. This study examined the following: the caregiving needs arising from functional dependency of older adults hospitalised for depression and discharged home; characteristics of their informal caregivers and type of assistance provided; and the adequacy of the care provided. On a sample of 45 older adults suffering from depression, in-hospital information was collected from medical records and discharge planners; and one month post-discharge a telephone interview was completed. Findings indicated that older adults hospitalised for depression are discharged home with high levels of functional dependency. Eighty-nine percent of patients had the assistance of an informal caregiver. Despite high levels of involvement, concerns remain about the adequacy of the care informal caregivers are able to provide in the face of such need. Yet, mental health research, policy and practice have largely ignored the role of the family with depressed older people. The authors call for increased attention to be paid to this subject. (AKM). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980828408 A |
| Classmark | ENR: LD:QKJ: P6:SJ |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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