Background: Globally, the population of elderly depressed people in need of medical care is increasing. The depression produced physical and psychological symptoms which could lead to suicidal behavior. The nurse should primarily support and increase understanding of the disease and treatment, primarily through person-centered conversations. However, the biggest obstacle to treatment is a lack of care seekers.
Aim: To highlight older persons experiences of living with depression.
Method: General literature review with a thematic analysis method. Article searches were performed in the databases CINAHL and PubMed. The searches generated eight articles with a qualitative method and one article with a mixed method.
Results: Resulted in a theme, Alone in his own universe, with four sub-themes, The experience of isolation and loneliness, Experiences of depression and its consequences, Feeling like the "black sheep and The experience of lack of knowledge hinders treatment.
Conclusion: In addition to an extensive feeling of loneliness, elderly felt there was a lack of knowledge within healthcare, society and individually. An increased understanding and a good social network led to reduced depressive symptoms and need for care, hopefully also an absence of suicide.