A Comparative Study To Assess The Level Of Depression Among Elderly Residing At Old Age Home And Within Family In Selected Areas Of Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh With A View To Develop Informational Booklet

Aging is a normal, universal and in evitable change which takes place even with the best of nutrition and health care. It is a time related change that occurs throughout life. The aging process occurs in every living species, as also in human beings by graying of hair, wrinkling of skin, hardening of articles, aches & pains in joints and weakening of eye sight, The way the older adults against to the changes of ageing depends on the individual. For some individuals adaption & adjustment are selectively easy, Where as for other individuals coping with aging changes may requires the assistance of family, friends & health care professionals. Objectives:1.To assess the level of depression among the elderly residing at old age home and within family.2.To compare the level of depression among elderly residing at old age home and within family.3.To associate the level of depression among the elderly residing at old age home and within family with their selected demographic variables. Methodology of the study: A Comparative design was used to assess the level of depression among old age home and within family. A total of 60(30 elderly residing in old age home and 30 family) were selected by Non probability sampling technique. Tool used for conducting study was yesavage Geriatric depression scale (1983) to assess the level of depression data were analyzed with the help of descriptive &inferential statistics. Result: The major findings of the study revealed 73.3% elderly living with old age home having mild depression 3.3% were having severe depression 23.3%were having normal depression where as in living within family 50% were having mild depression 26.6% were having normal depression 23.3& were having severe depression. The association of socio-demographic variables with level of depression among elderly living with old age home and family were determined by using chi square test which revealed that among revealed that among elderly living with old age home was a statistically significant association exists between are you getting old age pension at 0.01 level and hobbies at 0.05 level. Among elderly living within family was a statistically significant association exits between age are you getting old age pension at 0.05 level. H1 is rejected and h2 is partially accepted. Conclusion: Evidence from this investigations revealed that, a majority of elderly were having mild depression both in elderly residing at old age home and within family.