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Knowledge of late-life depression : an empirical investigation of aged care staff

Davison, Tanya E., McCabe, Marita P., Mellor, David, Karantzas, Gery and George, Kuruvilla 2009, Knowledge of late-life depression : an empirical investigation of aged care staff, Aging and mental health, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 577-586.

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Title Knowledge of late-life depression : an empirical investigation of aged care staff
Author(s) Davison, Tanya E.
McCabe, Marita P.
Mellor, David
Karantzas, Gery
George, Kuruvilla
Journal name Aging and mental health
Volume number 13
Issue number 4
Start page 577
End page 586
Publisher Routledge
Place of publication London, England
Publication date 2009-07
ISSN 1360-7863
1364-6915
Keyword(s) depression
aged care
staff knowledge
staff training
Summary Objectives: This study examined knowledge of late-life depression among staff working in residential and community aged care settings, as well as their previous training in caring for older people with depression.

Method: A sample of 320 aged care staff (mean age = 42 years) completed a survey questionnaire. Participants included direct care staff, registered nurses and Care Managers from nursing and residential homes and community aged care services.

Results: Less than half of the participating aged care staff had received any training in depression, with particularly low rates in residential care. Although aware of the importance of engaging with depressed care recipients and demonstrating moderate knowledge of the symptoms of depression, a substantial proportion of staff members saw depression as a natural consequence of bereavement, aging or relocation to aged care.

Conclusion: Experience in aged care appears to be insufficient for staff to develop high levels of knowledge of depression. Specific training in depression is recommended for staff working in aged care settings in order to improve the detection and management of late-life depression, particularly among direct carers, who demonstrated least knowledge of this common disorder.
Language eng
Field of Research 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology
Socio Economic Objective 920410 Mental Health
HERDC Research category C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal
ERA Research output type C Journal article
HERDC collection year 2009
Copyright notice ©2009, Taylor & Francis
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30019487

Document type: Journal Article
Collections: School of Psychology
Higher Education Research Group
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Created: Wed, 16 Sep 2009, 09:57:53 EST by Sally Morrigan