BACKGROUND:Psychiatric disorders are estimated to be 50% higher among elder public housing residents than among the general elderly population.OBJECTIVE:The purpose of the study was to assess for depression and cognitive impairment among rural elders in public housing.STUDY DESIGN:Assessments with 20 rural elders were completed using the PRIMEMD, Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale (CES-D), the MedicalOutcomes Study–12-Item Short Form (SF-12), andMini-Mental State Exam. Data were analyzed using SYSTAT software.RESULTS:Major depression (25%,n = 5), minor depression (10%,n = 2), and cognitive impairment (25%,n = 5) were identified in this sample. Using the CES-D, depressive symptoms were reported by 50% of seniors in the previous week. Comparative analysis of instruments showed strong correlations for assessing for depression in this elderly sample.CONCLUSIONS:Because depression and cognitive impairment can often herald nursing home placements, nurses need to assess this at-risk population. The instruments used are reliable and can easily be used by nurses in clinical practice. Nursing case management including assessment, referrals, identification of community services, and patient and family education are critical to address these underrecognized disorders.
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