Efficacy of in-person visits on decreasing depressive symptoms in minority older adults during the pandemic

Purpose of the project: The project aimed to assess depressive symptoms due to social isolation by implementing in-person visits and meaningful interaction with older adults that have been sheltered in place since the State of New Jersey ordered Medical Daycare closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: The project is a quality improvement with a repeated measurements design. Participants’ inclusion criteria were 55-99 years, with depression receiving telehealth services at a Medical Daycare. The intervention consisted of in-person visits once a week for four weeks. They discussed depressive symptoms and interactions with family and used a “gratitude diary” to explore methods to increase resilience and self-reflection. Interventions were evaluated using the CES-D-10 assessment tool in the 1st, 5th, and 8th weeks. Results: The number of participants that concluded the project was (n=26). The CESD-10 scores were analyzed. A non-parametric Friedman test was used. There were no significant changes in depression symptoms, X2 (n=26) =4.06 p=0.13. Based on the delta percentage, the CESD-10 score decreased 22.77% from baseline to the fifth week and increase 17.11% from the fifth week to the eighth week. Overall, there were 1.76% slight reductions from baseline to the eighth week. Implications: The timely recognition of depressive symptoms will delay the institutionalization of older adults, increase the quality of care and consumer satisfaction, and increase awareness that interventions that attend to psychological needs are an essential part of providing care to older adultsD.N.P.Includes bibliographical reference