Depression in LTC facilities

For my phys dys FW, I am going to a LTC facility. I have had the privilege of reading patient's charts to get background information. I have not seen any documentation psychosocial diagnoses in the information I have read; however, there does seem to be a common depressed appearance amoung several of the patient's I have seen. I stopped to think to myself about what it must feel like to be away from home in a strange place, away from family support, and the loss of independence. I imagine I would be a little "down" as well. Some of the patients do not have family that comes to visit, which must feel lonely and isolated. This brought me to further realize how important our "therapeutic use of self" comes in to play with this population. For some, interaction with staff may be all they get. Talking with them about things they enjoy and sparking conversation that brings joy to them can make a huge impact on how well the respond to the activity you are doing. People are more willing to interact and do their best when they are interested and engaged. The conversation itself can be therapeutic and give them a positive demeanor that will carry on throughout the day. It also helps them establish a bond and sense of trust with the therapist. Connecting with your clients emotions will not only help them, but also give means for successful sessions to come. It is very important when working with our clients to not forget who they are, and that their feelings are valid. It is very important to keep in mind that medical issues and medications can correlate with depression. Here is a link that discusses the relation between them in reference to long term care patients. http://www.seniorcareservices.org/long_term_care_and_medical_problems.htm