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Introduction: The elderly population in India is steadily increasing and it is expected to triple in 2050 as of the census 2011. Drastic improvements in health care made betterment in physical health but their subjective well?being remains unaccounted. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the quality of life (QoL) among elderly and to compare the differences in QoL among elderly population residing in homes and in old age homes. Methodology: An analytical cross?sectional study among elderly above the age of 60 years residing with families and other 40 elderly population residing in old age homes. A questionnaire-based interview was conducted using a standard semistructured World Health Organization-BREF QoL questionnaire. Results: In the study, most of the participants 45 (56.3%) were male and 35 (43.8%) belonged to the age group of 70–79 years with a mean (standard deviation) age of 73.96 (7.44) years. The study found that there is nil significant difference in QoL among elderly living in old age homes and in family setups. The domain scores of psychological, social, and environmental domains showed a slight nonsignificant increase in elderly among old age homes. Conclusion: The study showed nil significant difference in QoL score in all domains for the elderly. The concept of QoL needs to be looked into with more preference to psychological, social, and environmental domains.
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Context: Adaptation needs of senior citizens are not well explored in research, especially among people living in old age homes situated in developing countries like India. Aim: The aim of the study was to understand the needs and concerns of senior citizens living in old age homes and its effect on their adaptation. Subjects and Methods: Using the purposive sampling method, fifteen residents of an old age home and their three caregivers were interviewed to describe their views and experiences. The tools used were the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and an in-depth interview schedule. Statistical Analysis: Qualitative data were analyzed using Atlas ti. 7 for identifying major themes and subthemes. Results: The results showed that the major needs and concerns of senior citizens were unmet medical needs, difficulty to handle negative attitudes of staff, difficulty to adapt with new environment and culture, and emotional issues. Conclusion: Findings indicate the importance of addressing the adaptation needs of the elderly living in old age homes.
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Background: Anemia is a common morbidity in elderly persons (aged 60 years or above). In India, in recent years, the number of old age homes (OAHs) and the residents living in them has increased significantly. Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anemia among elderly persons living in OAHs. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among individuals living in OAH in Delhi, India. Using combination of location and type of OAH, 28 clusters of almost equal sizes were created, of which 13 clusters were randomly selected, and all elderly persons living therein were selected for the study. Sociodemographic profile was recorded using a self-designed, semistructured interview schedule. Hemoglobin (Hb) was estimated using HemoCue Hb 201+ system. Binary Logistic regression was used to assess the socioeconomic determinants of anemia. Results: The study included 334 elderly persons, with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 75.2 (8.6) years and mean (SD) Hb of 11.6 (1.7) g/dL. The mean (SD) Hb in men was 12.1 (1.7) g/dL compared to 10.9 (1.5) g/dL among women (P < 0.0001). The overall prevalence of anemia was 68.7% (95% confidence interval 63.9, 73.4); among those who were anemic, 47.4% had mild anemia, 47.0% had moderate anemia, and 5.6% had severe anemia. The prevalence of mild anemia was 45% in men compared to 24.8% in women. The odds of anemia among ?80 years was 2 times that among 60–69 years (P < 0.029). Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia among elderly persons in OAHs is high in Delhi, India and increased with age.
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Background: Old age is a big challenge to human life with respect to health needs as well as psychosocial needs. This study has explored the very important aspects of old age. Very few studies have been conducted in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts on the same aspects. The present study was an attempt to fill the gap in knowledge about the existing health-related and psychosocial problems faced by elderly population. Objectives: To study the health profile, socio-demographic factors, and psychosocial aspects of the elderly in old-age homes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study on the public health aspects and psychosocial problems of old-age persons (60 years and above) was carried out in old-age homes in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts, Gujarat, India. Results: A total of 500 elderly people, living in nine old-age homes in Ahmedabad district, were interviewed and examined. In the study population, 42.20% were male and 57.80% were female. Majority of the elderly were residing in old-age home for 3–10 years (59.60%). Moreover, the most frequent reason of shifting to old-age home among them was family conflicts (45.60%). Majority of the elderly were having body mass index in normal and overweight ranges. And, more number of females had shown overweight pattern as compared to males. This study revealed the five common presenting symptoms of the elderly to be joint pain (47.40%), impaired vision (39.20%), insomnia (28.00%), weakness (23.20%), and impaired memory (23.20%). Health problems of elderly population are of much concern as per this study. The major health problems found in the elderly were cancer, anemia, diabetes, cataract, hypertension, coronary heart disease, asthma, and osteoarthritis. Conclusion: Majority of the elderly people felt neglected by their family members. Two-thirds of old-age homes were having facility for regular health checkup. Majority of the elderly were having hypertension and joint pain as the most common presenting complaints among all.
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Background: The study on self-perceived uselessness may help health-care workers to provide opportunities for intervention for increased quality of health and greater survival rate in elderly. Objectives: To find the prevalence of self-perceived uselessness and its determinants among the elderly residents of old age homes of North Bengaluru. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken on 129 elderly aged 60 years and above in the old age homes of North Bengaluru. Self-perceived uselessness, sociodemographic variables, morbidity status, functional status, financial status, and personal habits were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Proportions, percentages, and Chi-square test were used for analysis. Results: Nearly half (45%) of the elderly had agreed that they had perceived themselves as useless as they age. Majority of those who perceived uselessness had one or >1 chronic morbidities and were functionally dependent (81.2%). Significant association was seen between self-perceived uselessness and functional dependency, gender, education, and having some form of activities during their leisure time. Conclusions: It can be concluded that self-perceived uselessness is quite prevalent in nearly one-half of the elderly in the old age homes in North Bengaluru having significant association with variables such as gender, education, leisure activities, and functional status.
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Background: Depression in old age is an emerging public health problem leading to morbidity and disabling effect on the quality of life. Depression in elderly is not yet perceived as a public health problem and is grossly underdiagnosed and undertreated. The physical and social environment plays an important role on the mental health of the elderly. Hence the present study was undertaken to assess and compare the depression among elderly residing in old age homes (OAHs) and community. The objective of the study was to assess and compare depression among elderly residing in OAHs and those living in community.Methods: A cross sectional study was done from October to December, 2016 among 100 elderly, of which 50 were inmates of old age homes and 50 were living in community selected by house to house survey. A pre tested, externally validated short form geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) in the local language is used after taking informed consent.Results: Prevalence of depression was high among inmates of old age homes (80%) compared to those of community (52%), this difference was statistically significant (p=0.003). On analyzing the association between sociodemographic factors and depression among the elderly residing in the community, it was found that marital status and presence of chronic disease were significantly associated with depression (p<0.05). Whereas among the elderly residing in old age homes, no significant asociation was found between depression and the sociodemographic factors.Conclusions: High prevalence of depression observed among the studied population indicates the need of screening for depression among elderly.
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A descriptive study was conducted to assess the quality of life among elderly residing at selected old age homes of Punjab. The research design used in this study was descriptive design. Total Ninety inmates with the age group above 60 years were selected by convenient sampling. The tool used for study was WHOQOL – BREF SCALE. Major findings of the study revealed thatunder physical domain 25(27.8%) have low QOL scores,35(38.9%) have average QOL scores and30(33.3%) have high QOL scores. under psychological domain 26(28.9%) have low QOL scores, 32(35.6%) have average QOL scores and 32(35.6%) have high QOL scores. under social domain 27(30%) have low QOL scores ,32(35.6%) have average QOL scores and31( 34.4%) have high QOL scores. under environmental domain,32(35.6%) have low QOL scores 30(31.1%) have average QOL scores and 30(33.3%) have high QOL scores.Association of QOL with demographic variables under physical domain reveals that there is significant association found for variables such as Age, gender, education and leisure activities, under Psychological domain significant association found for variables such as gender, family member visiting and leisure activities, under social domain significant association found for variables such as health problem, education, family member visiting and health care practice, under environment domain significant association found for variables such as Gender, education, monthly income, family member visiting and leisure activities. Whereas non-significant association found for all other variables.
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Aim: To assess the oral health status and treatment needs among elderly people aged 60 years and above residing as inmates in the old age homes of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Settings and Design: A cross‑sectional study was performed to determine the oral health status and treatment needs among elderly people. Materials and Methods: In order to assess the oral health status and treatment needs, the clinical assessment of oral mucosa, community periodontal index, loss of attachment, dentition status and treatment need, prosthetic status and prosthetic need was recorded based on a modified World Health Organization 1997 proforma. Statistical Analysis Used: Multi‑group analysis was done using analysis of variance. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 812 inmates, 431 (64.0%) of the study participants had oral mucosal lesions. In terms of periodontal status, all sextants were excluded (Code “X”) in 324 (39.9%) subjects. Out of dentate population, a majority of the inmates (219; 27.0%) presented with deep pockets (Code “4”) followed by shallow pockets (Code “3” ‑ 183; 22.5%). The majority of the subjects had no prosthesis in the upper arch (85.0%) and lower arch (86.6%). Conclusion: The study demonstrated poor oral health among institutionalized elderly inmates. Oral mucosal lesions were found to be higher and periodontal status was also poor amongst the study population.
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Abstract: Background:Elders in retirement (old age) homes are mainly those who have been abandoned by their family and have one or more physical or mental disabilities. It is a major challenge for the dental professional to plan oral health strategy for this group of patients. Methodology:This cross‑sectional study was conducted using a survey proforma. Information regarding their experience with the new denture, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after denture insertion was gathered. Statistical analysis of the data was done using the Chi‑square test withP < 0.05 considered significant. Results:One hundred and eighty‑three residents out of a total of 400 residents in 3 retirement (old age) homes were denture wearers. Among them, 101 (55.2%) were females and 82 (44.8%) were males. Dental prosthesis whether worn regularly, discomfort, retention, cleansing of denture during a period of 1month, 3 months and 6 months was found to be significant satisfaction with the prosthesis, denture adhesives used, food accumulation during a period of 1month, 3 months and 6 months was found to be non significant.Conclusion:The emotional characteristics of the patient must be taken into consideration during the entire procedure. We must understand that the success and failure of the prosthesis depends mainly on the patient’s confidence in the dentist rather than the quality of the prosthesis.
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Background: There has been a change in socio familial scenario over a period of time in India. The elderly are being displaced from a combined family to the old age homes. There is a need to assess the psychiatric morbidity in these settings to frame policies for future. Aims and objectives: To compare socio demographic factors and psychiatric morbidity in elderly living in old age homes and community. Methodology: 50 subjects from each of old age homes and community were administered Geriatric Mental Status Questionnaire after taking informed consent. The socio demographic factors and psychiatric morbidity of the two groups were analyzed statistically. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in socio demographic factors like age, educational status, socio economic status, marital status, having no male children and having employed children. Anxiety, moderate depression, obsessions and alcohol use were found to be higher in the community group where as mild depression; cognitive impairment and somatic dysfunction were found to be higher in old age homes, but statistically not significant, except for alcohol use. Conclusion: Elderly people in old age homes and community differed in socio demographic factors but not much in psychiatric morbidity.