Depressed Mood and Mental Health Among Elderly Medicare Managed Care Enrollees

Mental and physical health and functioning are intrinsically linked, and this relationship has distinct implications for the delivery of health care to elderly Medicare beneficiaries. Depressive symptoms are associated with an increased risk of physical decline, disability, and mortality (Covinsky et al., 1999; Oslin et al., 2000; and Penninx et al., 1998).