Abstract:

Elderly in India, older ones (above 80yrs) are growing at a fast pace and these very elderly people are usually weaker, insecure, dependent and suffer more often from age-related diseases ^[4]. A Cross sectional study was done using a Questionnaire along with Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to evaluate both physical and mental health of 410 participants above 60yrs of age using a Multi Stage Cluster Sampling technique with 137 samples each from 3 regions of Urban Chennai. Physically elderly complained with Joint pain, Leg pain, Loss of power or sensation, followed by Back pain, Constipation, Chest pain and Neck pain for the past two months. And mentally they complained about Loss of memory, appetite and Sleep. Amongst 233 males &177 females, physically 38.2 % &30.5% and 15.0% &27.7% were evaluated to be with Stage 1 &Stage 2 Hypertension. Amongst males and female, 1.3% and 6.8% were found to be with Severe Depression similarly, 3.9% and 14.1% were Moderately Depressed and 13.7% and 32.8% had Mild Depression while others were normal. Analysis of Chi-square Test for depression with other factors were sleeplessness, being widowed, monthly Income of less than Rs. 5000, Feeling Neglected, Living in Old Age Home and in Joint Family revealed a significant association (p < 0.05) with SPSS11.0. There is a strong association of depression amongst elderly were with External and Family influence which could make way for more studies related to development of Psycho physiological and Psycho social impacts on Geriatric health.

Keywords: Elderly, Geriatric, Depression, GDS, Chennai.

References:

[1].   Keller I, M. A. K. T. K. A., 2002. Global Survey on Geriatrics in the Medical Curriculum, Geneva, [Online] Available at: http://www.who.int/ageing/projects/en/alc_global_survey_tegeme.pdf [Accessed 2 Feb 2013].

[2].   Judith Banister, D. E. B. L. R., 2010. Population Aging and Economic Growth in China. Program on the Global Demography of Aging (PGDA), March, pp. Paper No. 53.

[3]. Apoorva Jadhav, K. S. S. K. K. J., 2011. Living Arrangements of the Elderly in India: Who lives alone and what are the patterns of familial support? Living Arrangements of the Elderly in India International Union for the Scientific Study of Population.

[4]. Gopal K Ingle, A. N., 2008 October. Geriatric Health in India: Concerns and Solutions. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, pp. 33(4): 214-218.

[5]. Salagre, S. B., 2013. Health Issues in Geriatrics. In: Medicine Update 3/chap177.pdf. Mumbai: Association of Physicians of India, pp. 767-770.

[6].   B, S., 1999. Report of the workshop on research and health care priorities in geriatric medicine and ageing, New Delhi: Indian Council of Medical Research.

[7].   World health organization, 2004. The global burden of disease. [Online] Available at: http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/GBD_report_2004update_full.pdf [Accessed 2 Feb 2013].

[8].   P.A. Saunders, J. M. C. B. H., 1993. The Prevalence of Dementia, Depression and Neurosis in Later Life: The Liverpool MRC-ALPHA Study. International Journal of Epidemiology, pp. 22 (5): 838-847.

[9].   E. Breeze, 2005. Area deprivation, social class, and quality of life among people aged 75 years. International Journal of Epidemiology, pp. 34 (2): 276-283.

[10].  Chief Director (Statistics), September 2010. First Annual Report on Health, Mumbai: Government of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

[11].  Corporation of Chennai, 2008. Zone Details. [Online] Available at: http://www.chennaicorporation.gov.in/zone/index.htm  [Accessed 1 March 2013].

[12].  Deepa M, 2003 Sep. The Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES)--study design and methodology (urban component) (CURES-I). Association of Physicians India., pp. 51:863-70.

[13].  Chief Director (Statistics), September 2010. First Annual Report on Health, Mumbai: Government of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

[14].  Yesavage, Issue Number 4, Revised 2012. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). [Online] Available at: http://www.stanford.edu/~yesavage/GDS.html  [Accessed 2 Feb 2013].