THE FEASIBILITY OF HOME CARE WORKERS DELIVERING AN INTERVENTION TO DECREASE DEPRESSION AMONG HOME-DWELLING, OLDER WOMEN: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Depression is associated with poorer functioning and may even increase the risk of dying. Home-dwelling frail older women with depression often receive inadequate treatment or no treatment at all. Therapeutic life review, an intervention based on Erikson's developmental stages, delivered by home care workers (HCWs) with three hours of training, is a cost effective way to enhance mood in these women. Nine HCWs who had implemented therapeutic life review participated in one of two focus groups and reported enhanced moods among their frail older clients.