Contrary to popular belief, depression is not a natural part of aging.
Depression is often reversible with prompt and appropriate treatment.
However, if left untreated, depression may result in the onset of physical, cognitive and social impairment as well as delayed recovery from medical illness and surgery, increased health care utilization and suicide. It is a brief questionnaire in which participants are asked to respond to the 30 questions by answering yes or no in reference to how they felt on the day of administration. The GDS may be used with healthy, medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired older adults. It has been extensively used in community, acute and long-term care settings. The validity and reliability of the tool have been supported through both clinical practice and research.