CHANGINGMINDS IN OLD AGE DEPRESSION - A TAILORED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT MODEL FOR DEPRESSED OLDER PEOPLE

ChangingMinds in Old Age Depression is a research and development project, a part of a larger ChangingMinds project 2007-2010, carried out in Central Union for the Welfare of the Aged.


A multidisciplinary team:

• Psychiatric nurse(s)
• Physiotherapist
• Psychologist
• Consulting geriatric psychiatrist

Research team members are:

Saarenheimo Marja, PhD, Eloniemi-Sulkava Ulla, PhD, Pietilä Minna, PhD, Savikko Niina PhD, Frosti Sonja M.Sc, Forder Marjo, physiotherapist, Vuori Päivi, psychiatric nurse, Kontio Leo, psychiatric nurse



Old Age Depression Intervention:

• Comprehensive care management by a psychiatric nurse
• Individual counselling based on the client’s needs and resources
• Psychosocial groups
- music
- arts
- conversations
• Physical exercise (individually/in groups)
• Cognitive psychotherapy (individual/group)
• Education and practical help (case management, nutritional guidance etc.)
• Collaboration with GPs, home care etc

Research goals are to:

• study the effects of the designed support model on the participants of the intervention in
- alleviating depression
- enhancing quality of life
- optimizing use of services
• study the intervention process both from the perspective of individual participants and the service system

Service development goals are to:

• create a support model for depressed older people, based on earlier research, broad gerontological knowledge, and older people’s experiences
• describe the requirements for the implementation of the model
• produce guidelines for the implementation of the model in municipalities
• optimize the cost of public health services
• improve motivation of professionals working with depressed older people

Study participants:

• 60+ people with mild to severe depression
• living in Leppävaara and Espoonlahti districts in Espoo
• intervention group (N=70) and control group (N= 70)

Methods of study:

• Controlled trial
• Process evaluation
• Qualitative case study

Study measures:

• Geriatric Depression Scale
• Hamilton Anxiety Scale
• Sense of Coherence
• Functional capacity IADL
• Quality of Life WHO
• Health and medication
• Social relations
• Nutrition – MNA
• Use of Services
• Alcohol use – AUDIT