Comparison of Depression and Cognitive Function between Elderly Welfare Recipients and Non-Elderly Welfare Recipients in a Public Health Center / 農村醫學 地域保健

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to provide the fundamental data available in the field of the elderly health of the low-income bracket by researching and comparing related factors for the assessment of the degree of depression and cognitive function between elderly welfare recipients and non-elderly welfare recipients. METHODS: The study subjects, 402 elderly person over 65-year-old in Daejeon were interviewed, during the two-month from May to June 2006, about their general characteristics, depression and cognitive function. RESULTS: elderly welfare recipients was higher than non-elderly welfare recipients in degree of depression on the other hand, in cognitive function is lower. Also, the depression and cognitive function were related with not only socio-demographic characteristics like the age, the degree of education, the presence of spouse or not and the health status but also health behavior characteristics like the sleeping time, the drinking and the exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The project of health promotion and programs that can improve the related factors to the depression and cognitive function for elderly welfare recipients should be developed and practiced.