The Shadowy Side of Aging: The Determining Role of Depression in the Development of Frailty

Frailty and depression are geriatric syndromes commonly seen in older adults that negatively affect quality of life and functional status. This study examined the levels of frailty and depression and the relationship between them in 159 older adults who visited three family health centers. Data were collected using the Edmonton Frailty Scale and Geriatric Depression Scale. Depression was detected in 22.6% of participants, and frailty in 33.4%. Frailty showed a significant relationship with marital status, education, employment status, number of children, health insurance, chronic disease, and depression ( p  < .05). A positive and strong correlation was found between depression and frailty ( p  = .001). Furthermore, illiteracy, presence of chronic disease, and depression levels were identified as the strongest independent risk factors for frailty in older adults, while being married was found to be a significant protective factor ( p  < .05). A holistic nursing approach can improve the quality of life of frail older adults.