Grant: Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI)

Depression is one of the most common mental health problems affecting older people using home care services. Yet, this condition is often unrecognized and undertreated. In a recent study of older adults using home care, only 12% of those with depression received adequate treatment. Unrecognized or undertreated depression is associated with poor outcomes, such as functional decline, diminished quality of life, increased mortality, and increased use of health services. As the population ages and the number of older people with depression increases, there is an urgent need for research to identify ways of improving the recognition and treatment of depression in this population. The main objective of this research is to determine the effects and costs of a nurse-led interprofessional mental health promotion intervention for 250 older adults over 75 years of age with depressive symptoms and their family caregivers using home support services. The nurse-led intervention will involve regular home visits, monthly case conferences, and evidence-based assessment and management of depression using an interprofessional approach. The overall goal of this way of providing home care services is to recognize, manage, and reduce the severity of depressive symptoms to improve the health of older adults and their family caregivers and, at the same time, reduce demand for health services. This information will be used by decision makers and clinicians to inform policy and support decision-making regarding allocation of home care resources.