Abstract
Background: Individuals living in old age homes faces diminished physical capacity, anxiety over entrusting oneself to a new environment, separation from the family, problems of adjustment with rigid and tight schedules and frequent encounters with ailments and death in the institution.
Aims: To find prevalence of depression among the individuals staying at old age home.
Materials & Methods: The present cross sectional study was carried among the individuals staying in old age home ambphalla, Jammu, J&K. There were about 48 individuals staying in this old age home. Various parameters like age, sex, education, marital status and comorbid physical illness were recorded in a separate sheet. All the individuals were assessed by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).
Results: The study showed that prevalence of depression was 70.8% among individuals residing in old age home. About 86.7% individuals who were above 70 years of age were depressed. 87.5% females were suffering from depression whereas only 62.5% of males were suffering from depression. Participants who were widowed had 100% prevalence of depression. Total of 83.9% participants who had comorbid physical illness had depression. Prevalence of depression was also higher among illiterate participants.
Conclusion: From present study, it has been concluded that there was high prevalence of depression among the individuals residing in old age home. Depression was more in those who were above 70 years old, females, widowed, uneducated and had comorbid physical illnesses.
Keywords: Depression, Old age home, Prevalence.
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Corresponding Author
Dr Gaurav S Manhas MBBS, MD
R\O: 381-A Indira Colony, Timber Road, Janipur, Jammu, J&K, India
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i6.100
