1aVice Principal, Karuna College of Nurisng, Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala
2Professor, Department of Surgery, Karuna Medical College Hospital, Chiur, Palakkad, Kerala
1bPh.D scholar, Saveetha University, Chennai
Online published on 25 March, 2015.
Depression is an important public health challenge in developing countries. In 1990, WHO defines depression as a major worldwide cause of disability. The elderly age group is considered as vulnerable group because of these multiple co existing medical and psychological problems. Cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, hearing and visual impairments, depression and infections such as tuberculosis are common problems in the elderly population. Depression is not a natural part of aging and is under treated in the age group.
Assess the level of depression among the elders in the old age home.
Assess the level of depression among the elders living with their family
Compare the level of depression among the elders in the old age home and those who live with their family.
Find the association between living condition and depression
There is a significant difference in the level of depression among the elders in the old age home and in those who live with their family.
Research Design: Descriptive design was adopted
Setting: St. Joseph's Home for the aged and the destitute, Podanur, Coimbatore and the community area near by the home was selected for this study.
Sampling: Used simple random sampling technique to select the samples
Tool and method for data collection: A short form of geriatric depression scale was used and conducted a structured interview to collect the data
There were more number of males than females in both the group
There were more unmarried in group A
68% were not having life partner in group A and in group B only 22% were not having their lie partners.
72% were not satisfied with their children in group A and 64% were not satisfied with their children in group B.
The presence of depression is more in group A than group B.
The calculated chi square value to find the association between living condition and depression is 109.96 which is greater than the table value and significant at 0.01 level.
Depression, Old age home, Family
