Nursing Home Transition and Depressive Symptoms in Older Medical Rehabilitation Patients

The present study of older medical rehabilitation patients investigated whether transition to a nursing home after rehabilitation was significantly related to increased depressive symptoms at baseline and at 3-, 6-, and 18-month follow-ups. All participants lived alone prior to their medical rehabil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical gerontologist 2004, Vol.27 (1-2), p.59-70
Main Authors: Loeher, Kristen E., Bank, Adam L., Macneill, Susan E., Lichtenberg, Peter A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Depression
Depression (Psychology)
Discharge
Elderly
Elderly people
Geriatrics
Medical sciences
Medical treatment
nursing home
Nursing Homes
Patients
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Rehabilitation
Transition
USA
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Summary:The present study of older medical rehabilitation patients investigated whether transition to a nursing home after rehabilitation was significantly related to increased depressive symptoms at baseline and at 3-, 6-, and 18-month follow-ups. All participants lived alone prior to their medical rehabilitation. Those returning to live alone (N = 86) were compared to those discharged to live with others (N = 62), or to a nursing home (N = 38). Cross-sectionally, patient's discharged to live alone reported the lowest levels of depressive symptoms followed by those living with others. Patients discharged to a nursing home reported higher levels of depressive symptoms that were marginally significant at baseline (p < .10) and 18 months (p < .10), while statistically significant at 3 months (p < .01). At 6 months post-discharge, results were not significant as the highest levels of depressive symptoms were seen in both nursing home patients and those who were living with others. Longitudinally, those who remained in a nursing home during all four assessment points reported higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to those who continuously lived alone or continuously lived with others after 18 months (p < .01). However, depressive symptomatology was stable over time among those who continuously resided in a nursing home following discharge. These findings provide additional support for a link between loss of independence and elevated depressive symptomatology.
ISSN:0731-7115
1545-2301
DOI:10.1300/J018v27n01_06