Background: Depression in hospice care is undertreated and misunderstood. The geriatric population have health concerns that increase the likelihood of depression and they are more susceptible to complications that are both pharmacological and non-pharmalogical. Early intervention by an interdisciplinary team can reduce feelings of helplessness and improve quality of life in the final months of life. Foreground: The state of Utah has the highest percentage of geriatric patients enrolled in the hospice benefit provided by Medicare. It is a Medicare requirement to incorporate interdisciplinary care to treat the whole person instead of the disease process. The incidence of depression can be more proactively treated through medications, counseling, spiritual care, volunteer support, assistance with activities of daily living care, music therapy, and management of other symptoms the patient is burdened with that contribute to feelings of depression. EBP Framework: Evidence-Based Practice and interprofessional teamwork have the highest chance of treating depression in the geriatric hospice population. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was utilized in the project along with The Johns Hopkins 18-step Nursing Model. Methods: This project was designed to increase awareness, incorporate all disciplines for multidimensional care, and treat depression through regular assessment and intervention. This project used an educational approach to influence employee education and awareness on the toptic of geriatric depression. The project implemented the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) in addition to the current Edmonton Symptom Assessment System. Use of the scale directs care to the proper interventions the patients need in order to report decreased levels of depression upon re-evaluation. Findings/Results: The educational intervention along with the use of GDS-15 scale had positive results in increasing awareness of the patients’ level of depression. Implementation of the scale has encouraged the team to work together to treat the depressive signs and symptoms and has increased communication in care plans established for each patient. Conclusion/Recommendations: The project outcomes for this system’s change project include increased care for the patients with a positive GDS-15 scale, increased interdisciplinary team cohesion and teamwork, and increased use of depression care plans to chart patient needs and increase the team approach.
