人口老化已成為世界性的現象，行政院衛生署預估民國140年時65歲以上人口佔總人口數將增加至29.8%，可見臺灣地區高齡化的情形越來越明顯。然而老年人因為身體功能逐漸衰退，易罹患各種疾病，再加上退休及社會角色的改變，容易發生情緒上的適應不良，進而減少了和社會互動的機會，更加地容易引起退縮與憂鬱。本文以文獻探討方式來分析老人憂鬱情形，並提出積極改善策略。結果顯示，在美國約有15%老年人口受憂鬱症狀所影響；而臺灣有憂鬱症狀的老人盛行率，根據林口長庚醫院及高雄醫學大學研究分別在1997年與2000年期間的12.9%到21.7%。本文也將深入探討與分析何謂老人憂鬱症、引發老人產生憂鬱症的因素、診斷標準為何、家中長者有憂鬱情形又該如何處置與老人憂鬱情形的評估工具等。最後本文以世界衛生組織發展的渥太華健康促進憲章為基礎，提出防制老人憂鬱盛行率與改善憂鬱嚴重程度的策略方向，以作為公共衛生政策制定之參考。

The aging of population has already become common phenomenon worldwide. In Taiwan, the total population over 65 will increase to 29.8% during the year of 2050, therefore, the situation of aging will be the vital issue in the society. However, the degeneration of body function among the elderly, being apt to suffer diseases, other reasons such as retirement, changes of social roles, the maladjustment on mood, and decreasing the opportunities of social interaction, the elderly people are easier to be isolated from the society and depressed than the other group of people in the society. This article, first, analyzes the situation of elderly people's depression, and proposes some strategies to improve it. In the United States, there are about 15% elderly people influenced by the symptom of depression. According to some studies in Taiwan, the prevalence of depression in elderly people is about 12.9% to 21.7%. Furthermore, this article will also clarify deeply about what the elderly depression is, the risk factors, the standards of diagnosis, and the tools of assessment. Finally, the author adapts the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion which initiated by the World Health Organization in 1986, to suggest the future strategic directions to prevent the depression among elderly people to improve their quality of life.