• Introduction
• Module 1: Substance Abuse in Older Adults
• Module 2: Supervision Specific to Older Adults
• Module 3: Depression in Older Adults
  • Overview
  • Video
  • Lecture Notes
  • Classroom Learning Activities
  • Written Assignments
  • References
  • Evaluation
• Module 4: Caregiving for Older Adults
• Acknowledgements

Module 3: Depression in Older Adults > Classroom Learning Activities

Video Clips

Vignette #1, Time: 2:01 - 8:25 (Mr. Williams enters apt and Sarah follows, introduces herself and begins to explore his functioning. Sarah asks about depression and offers the services of her agency, but Mr. Williams refuses twice and moves to end the visit.)

Discussion Questions

• What clinical signs or symptoms of depression do you see in Mr. Williams?
• What vulnerabilities does he have that might predispose him to depression?
• What would you ask or do to assess for depression?
• What might you do differently than the social worker in the video?

Classroom Exercises

• Myths about Depression in Later Life:  Handout short T/F quiz at start of class.  Tell students to hold onto their quiz and note corrections as class proceeds. At end of class, give quiz again; Review each question in larger group and facilitate discussion about myths:
• Depression among older adults is a normal consequence of aging and associated problems.
• Depression cannot be treated in older adults.
• Most completed suicides are terminally ill.
• Elders who complete suicide do not have close family members.
• Only elderly persons who live alone are at risk for suicide.
• Suicide and suicidal behavior are normal responses to stresses experienced by most people.
• There is nothing that can be done to stop an elderly suicide.
• Most suicidal elders will self-refer to obtain mental health care.

Role-play exercises

[For Role-plays 1 and 2, ask one student to play the role of Mr. Williams [from Rewarding Challenges, vignette #1].  Have another student to play the role of the social worker.]

Role-play #1

Directions for the social worker:

You are making a home visit to Mr. Williams to assess his functioning and his need for services.  Your field instructor suggests that Mr. Williams might be struggling with depression.  Demonstrate how you would conduct an interview to assess Mr. Williams's depressive symptoms.

Role-play #2

Directions for the social worker:

You are making a home visit, and have been assessing Mr. Williams for depression.  During the visit, you have become concerned that Mr. Williams may be thinking about hurting himself. Demonstrate how you would conduct a suicide assessment with this client.

[For Role-play #3, ask a student to play Mr. Williams's son or daughter.  Ask another student play the role of the social worker.]

Role-play #3

Directions for the social worker:

You are meeting with Mr. Williams's son or daughter to share your concerns that their father may be depressed.  Demonstrate how you would share your concerns, the reasons for your concerns, and your recommendations with the son or daughter.  

Directions for Mr. Williams's son or daughter:

You have been asked to meet with a social worker from an agency about your father's well-being.  Your father lives by himself in an apartment one hour away from your home, and has done so since your mother died six months ago.  Although you consider yourself very close to your father, you have two young children, and both you and your spouse work full-time, making it difficult to visit him as frequently as you would like or to act as his full-time caregiver.

Group activities

• First, have each student do a multiaxial diagnosis of Mr. Williams, given only the information supplied in the tape.  As a group, have each student share their diagnosis and explain how they came about doing it.  
• Is Mr. Williams depressed?  If so, what type of depression is he suffering with? Are the diagnoses consistent?  Did different students notice different things?  
• What are the ethical issues raised by this case?  What are the ethical issues if the social worker suspects Mr. Williams is suicidal?  
• Discuss the impact of race/ethnicity, gender and age on Mr. Williams's mental health, and on the interaction between him and the social worker.  Have one person write up your thoughts, and then ask the groups to share with the larger class.
• Think about the type(s) of group(s) that Mr. Williams would benefit from.  Plan activities/discussion topics for the group.

© 2008 Silver School of Social Work

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