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Introduction: Ageing is a normal phenomenon and an inescapable process. According to WHO. World-wide over 20% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental or neurological disorder and according to the National Mental Health Survey of India (2015-16) the prevalence of mental disorders in geriatric population in our country is 10.90%. Thus, this study aims to assess anxiety, depression and cognitive disorders among persons living in OAH and to explore the various factors associated with it. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in OAH Jabalpur. All residents of OAH were included in the study so no need for sampling. The sample size was 73. A Predesigned semi-structured Questionnaire was used which comprised of the socio-demographic profile with using GAD-7, GDS-15 & MMSE-30 for screening of psychiatric morbidity. Data analysis was done by using IBM SPSS-23. Results: The result shows the mean age of the study subject was 72.14 ±7.48. The prevalence of Anxiety was 19.2%, prevalence of depression was 41.1% and prevalence of cognitive impairment was 23.3%. Conclusion: In this study it was found out that substantial proportion of older adults were suffering from anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment, most of older adults were widowed and there is a need to provide psychological support, a positive environment and proper care to improve mental health.
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Background: Quality of life in elderly is more relevant towards an ageing society. In India, the awareness is very little about the special needs of the elderly and their care takers (physical and mental health, psychological and social support). Furthermore, among elderly there is a variation between those living in old age homes (OAHs) and those living in general population. Hence the present study was undertaken to assess and compare the quality of life of elderly living in OAHs and community.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among elderly in old age homes and family set up of Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu. QOL of elderly was assessed using WHO QOL - brief questionnaire after taking informed consent from the participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23.Results: A total of 106 elders from each group old age home and family setup were the study participants. Quality of life was good 72.5% in family and in OAHs it was only 56.2%. The main reason for residing in OAHs was no family, lack of care takers. All the four domains were found to be highly statistically significant.Conclusions: From this study we are able to find out that quality of life in family setup is better than OAHs, psychologically many people were depressed as they live separately from their family and relatives, friends and the community they lived.
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Background: The older adults living in old-age homes are increasing. Falls among older people are a major public health concern. Screening for risk status of falls among the elderly is crucial in preventing many problems among them. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the risk status of falls among elderly population residing in old-age homes in field practice area of a tertiary care hospital, Bengaluru. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the selected old-age homes. Data were collected by interview method using fall risk assessment tool part 1. Fall risk component was assessed and interpreted by scoring under low, medium, and high risk for falls. The elderly were also interviewed for a history of other comorbidities. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Among the total 220 elderly population, 5% had high risk for falls and 24.5% had medium risk for falls. Among 127 (57.7%) who had comorbidities, 9 (81.9%) of them have high risk for falls and the association is highly significant. Conclusion: Falls are more common among females. Risk for falls was high among elderly population with comorbidity.
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Background: Increasing elderly population became a big concern to health professionals. Loneliness, lack of socialization and depression is quite frequently reported in elderly population. Lack of evidence on impact of socialization and loneliness on depression necessitate this survey. The current work focused on level of socialization, loneliness and depression among elderly residing in old age homes.Methods: The cross-sectional survey includes 100 purposively selected elderly from selected old age homes, Uttarakhand. Elderly were interviewed by using University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness scale, Geriatric depression scale (GDS) and Eysenck personality inventory (EPI) sociability subscale of extroversion. Appropriate statistics was applied to generate results.Results: Findings revealed a significant relationship of loneliness with depression (r=-0.740, p<0.01) and sociability (r=0.195, p<0.01). Similarly, sociability and depression were found dependent on each other (r=-0.354, p<0.01) in elderly.Conclusions: Elderly residing in old age homes need due attention and care to get rid of these silent psychological problems. Timely medical care and measures to improve socialization may help to anticipate mortality and morbidity and protect the vulnerable population.
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Background: The ageing process is not determined truly by genes and personal characteristics but mainly by his adjustment with the environment he lives. Ageing of a person depends on many factors which influence the course of life like physiological, social, psychological, economic, environmental and cultural factors which in turn affect the quality of life (QoL). Given these findings, quality of life is influenced by the place where a person lives. The objective of the study was to assess and compare the quality of life of elderly living in old age homes and community. Methods: This was a cross sectional, questionnaire based study done on elderly people (>60 years) living in old age home, urban and rural area. The study was carried out for a period of 3 months from April to June 2016 after taking consent from the study participants. WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. Results: Elderly females were more than elderly males in rural and old age home. The study participants of all the three places were concentrated in the age group 65-70 years old. The mean scores of physical, psychological and social domains were high in urban elderly people. Most of the study population was illiterate in urban and rural area but in old age home most of them were educated. There was significant difference between the mean scores for psychological and environmental domain (p=0.048 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusions: Participants living in the urban area had higher mean scores in the physical, psychological and social domains as compared to rural area and old age home. The mean score of environmental domain was high in rural area as compared to urban and old age home.
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Background: India had about 8.6 crores elderly above 65 years in 2016. It is expected to increase to 17.9 crores by 2031 and 30.1 crores by 2051. This will increase the demand for health and other social security services. Hence, we decided to collect and analyze socio-demographic profile of inmates of an old age home (OAH).Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted at an old age home in North Maharashtra from 15th March 2008 to 30th April 2008 by questionnaires/interviews. Sample size was 100%.Results: There were total 40 inmates. 50% were aged 50-60 years. 27.5% (60-70 years), 17.5% (70-80 years) and 5% (80-90 years). Males were 52.5%, female- 47.5%. married- 50%, widow- 45% and unmarried- 5%. 30% were housewives, 27.5 % were labourers, 20% were businessmen, 10% were in government jobs, 7.5% were teachers and 5% were farmers. 40% inmates were childless, >4 children- 25%, 3 children- 17.5%, 2 children- 12.5% and 1 child-5%. 33 inmates’ children were literate while 7 inmates’ children were illiterate. Main causes of staying at OAH were family problems 50%, personal cause 45% and economical cause was 5%. Major health problems were locomotor disorder- 52.5%, cataract- 47.5%, hypertension- 17.5%, diabetes- 15%, genito-urinary problem- 7.5%, decreased hearing- 7.5%, IHD- 5% and respiratory problems- 2.5%. Dental health/problems included missing teeth- 65%, caries- 25%, discoloration- 22.5% and dentures- 20%. Literacy was 70%.Conclusions: Major medical/dental/social problems were locomotor, cataract, diabetes-mellitus, hypertension, tooth loss, caries, family disputes, poverty and childlessness.
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Background: In elderly mental disorders are overlooked or underdiagnosed. Almost 20% of elderly above 60 years of age suffer from a mental or neurological disorder, and the most common ones are dementia and depression. Studies have pointed out the increased prevalence of depression in old‑age homes. Objectives: The objectives are as follows: (1) To estimate and compare the prevalence of geriatric depression among people living in public and private old‑age homes and (2) to study the factors associated with depression and compare the facilities in public and private old‑age homes. Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional questionnaire‑based study was conducted among geriatric population in old‑age homes of Mysore. Depression was assessed using the short form of geriatric depression scale‑15, cognitive impairment using Mini‑Mental State Examination‑30. Data relating to sociodemographic variables and facility assessment were collected separately. Results: The overall prevalence of depression in old‑age homes of Mysore was 33.3% (46.3% in public and 21.6% in private old‑age homes with P = 0.002). The facilities offered and reason for stay also varied significantly across both homes. Marital status, education, economical dependency, and uncorrected impairment were the factors associated with depression. Among the psychosocial factors, feeling of loneliness, and neglect were significant predictors in both settings. Other psychosocial factors such as feeling satisfied by the status of their children’s life, advice taken by their children, financial and personal losses in the past 1 year, and presence in social events were significant predictors only in private old‑age home. Conclusion: Prevalence of depression in the old‑age homes differs significantly with the type of home, the facilities offered, and the reason cited by the inmates for admission probably is the contributing factor for the variation in depression.
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Background and Objectives: The well being of oneself, happiness with one’s situation in life and ability to perform and control the different situation of life is HRQoL. Reminiscence therapy is a way for residents of assistant living facilities to become better acquainted with one another and strengthen the personal value and self esteem. The objective of this study was to assess the HRQoL while application of Reminiscence Therapy among the old age people who are residing at a selected old age home in Bengaluru, India. Materials and Methods: For this study quasi experimental research design was selected and convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from 60 samples staying at old age home by using the SF-36 scale. The samples in experimental group receive 10 sessions of reminiscence therapy each session last for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The experimental group was divided into 6 groups each group having five members for group discussion related to the topics like childhood memories, education pattern, first job and first salary, marriage, first child etc. Post test data was collected after a week of implementation of Reminiscence Therapy. Then the data was analyzed and interpreted. Results: The findings of the study with regard to pretest HRQoL reveals that 86.7% has poor HRQoL, 13.3 % moderate HRQoL and no one was having good HRQoL in experimental group. In control group 56.7% has poor HRQoL, 43.3% moderate HRQoL and no one was having good HRQoL. But in posttest, only in experimental group there was significant improvement in HRQoL as 83.3% has good HRQoL, 13.3% moderate HRQoL and 3% poor HRQoL. Conclusion: This study concluded that with significant improvement in the SF-36 Scale score after administration of the reminiscence therapy and seen improvement in HRQoL.
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Background: Old age is an imminent natural phenomenon and is a significant outcome of demographic transition. Ageing of population is primarily the results in reduction in mortality and fertility. The process of industrialization, globalization and urbanization results in overall demographic and family structure. India is also among the countries with the high burden of ageing population. Objective: To study the Socio-demographic Characteristics, Nutritional status and Health condition of elderly living in Old Age Homes. Methodology: This was a cross sectional exploratory study. Area of research was Old Age Homes of Varanasi district. Elderly who were aged 60 years and above formed the study population with a total number of 231 study subjects. Information was collected with a pre-designed and pre tasted interview schedule. Results: Elderly females were found approximately three times higher than male (73.6% vs 26.4%). Majority 44.7% belonged to age group 60-69 years. Most of them (96.5%) were Hindus. The illiteracy rate in this study group was 59.7%. Half (51.1%) belonged to lower socio-economic status, 47.6% had normal nutritional status, 45.9% were found to be suffering from Joint pain; the most common health problem. Conclusion: Majority of the study subjects was females, the literacy rate found very low, more than half have poor nutritional status and majority of them were suffering from different morbid illnesses.
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Background: Population aging is both a medical as well as a social problem. The situation of the elderly still worsens when there is presence of chronic diseases, physical incapacity and financial stringency. An exceptional increase in the number and proportion of older adults in the country, rapid increase in nuclear families, and contemporary changes in psychosocial matrix and values often compel this segment of society to live alone or in old age homes. The objective of study was to know the medico-social profile of the inmates of an old age homes. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted from January to December 2014 to assess the socio-demographic profile, pattern of morbidities and quality of life of elderly residing in old age homes. Total 4 old age homes and 203 elderly people were included in the study after taking verbal and written consent of the elderly people and permission from the managers of all the old age homes. A semi structured and pretested questionnaire was prepared to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics and morbidity pattern. Data was collected and analyzed by appropriate statistical software. Results: Around 65% of elderly people were in the age group of 65 to 79 years. 58% of the males and 39.1 % of the females were suffered from cataract, whereas 39.8 of the males and 39.1 % females were suffered from hypertension. Next common morbidity was diabetes present in 28.4 of the males and 18.3 % of the females followed by joint pain present in 20.5% of the males and 23.5% of the females. No significant difference was found among morbidities of the males and females (x2=2.85, p=0.35). 30.8% of the males and 28.75% of the females were hypertensive. Around 27% of the males and 36% of the females were obese and 18% of males and females were pre-obese according to BMI value. There was no significant difference in the BMI among males and females. Conclusions: The study highlighted a high prevalence of morbidity and health related problems in old age group.