Resumo

OQUENDO GONZALEZ, María Elena  e  SOUBLET MAESTRI, Oria. ¿Es la depresión un problema de salud en un hogar del adulto mayor?. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2003, vol.19, n.2. ISSN 0864-0319.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in "Lazo de la Vega" home for the aged, located in Ciudad de la Habana, on May, 1999. The home renders social services such as semi-institutionalization, assistance program for the elderly living alone, grandparents´clubs and institutionalized older people. The fundamental objective was to assess if depression was a health problem in this population. Geriatric depression test was applied in 71 older people and the most frequent nursing diagnoses and interactions in this affection were set forth. It was confirmed that depression is an important health problem in this population. All the elderly that are included in the assistance program for the elderly living alone suffered depression in a greater or lesser extent. The predominant cause of depression in semi-institutionalized elderly, grandparents´clubs and the aged living alone is social one whereas in the institutionalized older adult, the most frequent cause is biological one. The elderly included in the assistance program presented with the major problems. It was proved that nursing interventions increased the quality of life of the older adults.

Palavras-chave : HOME FOR THE AGED; DEPRESSION [etiology]; NURSING DIAGNOSIS; NURSING CARE; QUALITY OF LIFE; AGING HEALTH.