Understanding, Knowledge, and Family Support in Caring for Older Adults with Major Depression

Abstract

Public health care system is globalized and well-organized in Thailand. Providing care for older adults with major depression needs the attention of healthcare providers in the community long-term care. The purpose of this qualitative research was to describe the essence of caring for older adults with major depression as perceived by the health care providers.  Nine registered nurses and a psychologist who experienced caring for older adults with major depression for one to five years, were asked to interview for 60-90 minutes, using in-depth interviewed and semi-structure questions. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis. Three themes were emerged: 1) Understanding about the nature of illness as well as patients, and their families; 2) Applied knowledge to integrated care by a team and its network; and 3) All supports of family members are meaningful to care. The findings of explicit contents lead to develop the intervention to care for these specific individuals with major depression.