Late-life depression is prevalent in home care. This pilot study, part of a statewide initiative to enhance depression care, evaluated the influence of a 2-hour depression screening and intervention workshop on home care professionals' knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes related to depression in older home care patients. A pretest, posttest design was used to evaluate the effects of the workshop with 280 home care professionals from 7 home care agencies. Following the depression workshop, participants' knowledge levels in evidence-based screening and care for depressed older adults was significantly increased, t(280) = 16.49, p<.001. A significant increase in confidence and attitude ratings were found (p<.001). Findings from this pilot study support broader dissemination throughout Connecticut home care agencies.

The increasing prevalence of depression in elderly home health care patients led to a statewide initiative in Connecticut to enhance evidence-based depression treatment for older adults. A training curriculum on depression screening and interventions was developed and disseminated to 25 home care professionals representing 14 agencies in Connecticut using a train-the-trainer model. Home care trainers included nurses and social workers. This article describes Phase I curriculum design and initial evaluation of the impact of the training on the preparation of trainers to provide depression care education at their home care agencies. Several evaluation measures, including an appraisal of the self-reported attitudes and self-efficacy of home care professionals towards depressed older adults, a pre/post-test to assess the trainers’ knowledge, and willingness of trainers to implement the education program at their agencies were used to assess program outcomes. Participants’ self-efficacy levels in screening and caring for depressed older adults was significantly increased following the education program compared to immediately before the education program (t, (24) = -4.204; p < .001).

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