Depression screening and possible applications of advance care planning

Abstract

Depression screening was conducted to determine the health status of community-dwelling elderly individuals, and the concept of advance care planning was introduced. While depression screening among the elderly often uses the Geriatric Depression Scale, a single question regarding de¬pressive mood also provides a valid measure of depression in elderly persons. Depression is associated with lower activities of daily living, competence, and subjective quality of life among the elderly living in Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as in Ja¬pan. Advance care planning is a process of discussion between individuals and their care providers to make decisions about fu¬ture care preferences and priorities, while they are still capable. If they wish, they may prepare an advance directive to in¬form others about their decisions and best interests, such as a written advance decision to refuse treatment and/or appoint¬ment of a person with lasting powers of attorney. The purpose of advance care planning is to enable elderly persons to re¬ceive better end-of-life care. To promote introduction of advance care planning in Japan, voluntary discussion among family members should be encouraged. © 2013 The Japan Geriatrics Society.