A Comparative Study of Depression in Elderly Institutional Residents and Elderly Home Residents

ABSTRACT

When people experience aging, their need for care and institutionalization rises. Sending Parents to elderly or nursing homes has been prevalent in western countries while not a standard practice in Eastern communities. The present study based on a cross-sectional study design aspired to compare the depression in elderly institutional residents and elderly home residents. A purposive sample of 150 elderly were assessed for depression by using the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The results indicated that the level of depression was significantly higher in institutionalized elderly compared to the elderly living in their homes with families. Further, elderly females reported higher depression in comparison to elderly male respondents. Moreover, findings indicate that the institutionalized elderly had moderate to severe levels of depression and that the elderly home residents had no to a mild mood disturbance. The elderly may feel more psychological health living with families. The study concludes that elderly individuals living in institutional homes were much more suffering from depression as compared to elderly individuals living at home with families. The concerned authorities should devise strategies to enhance the mental health and quality of life of the elderly which may contribute to reduce the prevalence of depression (AU)