INFORMAL CAREGIVING TO OLDER ADULTS HOSPITALIZED FOR DEPRESSION

This study addresses the following questions: (1) What are the caregiv ing needs stemming from functional dependency of older adults hospital ized for depression and discharged home?; (2) Who are the informal car egivers, and what assistance do they provide?; and (3) How adequate is this informal care? On a sample of 45 depressed older adults, in-hosp ital information was collected from medical records and discharge plan ners; and one month post-discharge, a telephone interview was complete d. These data indicate that older adults hospitalized for depression a re discharged home with high levels of functional dependency. Eighty-n ine per cent of these patients have the assistance of an informal care giver; Despite high levels of involvement, concerns remain about the a dequacy of the care informal caregivers are able to provide in the fac e of such need. Yet mental health research, policy and practice have l argely ignored the role of the family with depressed elders. Increased attention should be paid to the topic of informal caregiving to older adults with depression.