The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia in the context of the Australian Aged Care Funding Instrument: a literature review.

A new funding instrument has been introduced into residential aged care known as the Aged Care Funding Instrument. As part of these requirements the assessment of depression for all residents admitted to an Australian aged care facility has been implemented using the Cornell Scale of Depression in Dementia. This literature review was undertaken on the depression prevalence for residents, the Cornell Scale of Depression in Dementia as the assessment tool being utilised and its application for residents who may or may not have dementia. The use of the assessment tool and its reliability and validity are dependent on the assessor's education and ability to understand depressive symptoms that are often complicated by other co morbidities. There is a serious lack of qualified nursing staff in residential aged care facilities in Australia, and the review and conclusions question whether the information collected through this tool will be of value for the accurate assessment of the presence of depression in residents.