Background: Depression is a common public health problem in today's society, including among the older generation. Unfortunately, depression in older adults can be challenging to identify, leaving many individuals with untreated symptoms. 

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how nurses work to identify and counteract depression in the elderly. 

Method: The study is based on a literature review that includes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies. The review analyzes and critically evaluates ten selected articles to ensure credibility. The articles have been selected from the databases PubMed and PsycInfo. The articles have been reviewed through an integrated analysis method and then quality checked. 

Result: The results identified three main categories: (1) strategies and provision of care for depression, (2) knowledge and communication, and (3) care relationships. The results indicated a lack of sufficient knowledge about the care of individuals with depression. Additionally, high workload and time constraints were identified as factors affecting the quality of care, which in some cases prevented the establishment of a caring relationship which is an important aspect of caring for depression in older adults.

Conclusion: In conclusion, depression among the elderly is recognized as a global public health issue. Therefore, nurses require increased knowledge of the condition, multimorbidity and the different dimensions of pain in order to effectively identify and counteract depression in older adults.