PSYCHIATRIC WELLNESS IN GERIATRIC POPULATION OF JAIPUR CITY: AN EMERGING CHALLENGE

Author Details : Subhash Biloniya, Afifa Zafer, Kusum Gaur, R K Manohar, Lovesh Saini

Volume : 2, Issue : 2, Year : 2015

Article Page : 82-86

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Stress is a side effect of development and stress ultimately leads to mental ill health and the worst affected group is elderly. India is a developing country and mental illnesses are also on a rise. Present study aims to find out psychiatric wellness and its associated factors in geriatric population of Jaipur City.

Methods: A community bases survey was conducted with 30 cluster technique to identify houses with elderly (≥60 years) in Municipal Corporation area of Jaipur City. Semi-structured pro-forma was used to collect data. Modified Mini Screen (MMS) was used to identify psycho-wellness in elderly. Data were expressed in percentage and proportions and inferred by Chi-square test.

Interpretation & Conclusions: A quantifiable number (24.24%) of elderly was in either orange or red zone of psycho-wellness. With increasing age, proportion of elderly people were significantly (P<0.05) increasing in orange or red zone. Widows and widowers were found significantly (P<0.05) more affected as compared to married elderly living with their spouses. Not earning elderly were also more affected than those who were earning. Sex, caste, education, skill of occupation, socio-economic condition, housing conditions and type of family of elderly was not found to be associated with Psycho-wellness in elderly (P>0.05). So it can be concluded from study that about one fourth of the elderly had some diagnosable mental ailment. Mental ill health increases with increasing age. Widows/widower/divorcees/separated spouses also have more chances of mental illness.

Keywords: Elderly, Modifies Mini Screen (MMS), Psychiatric wellness, Psychiatric morbidity

How to cite : Biloniya S, Zafer A, Gaur K, Manohar R K, Saini L, PSYCHIATRIC WELLNESS IN GERIATRIC POPULATION OF JAIPUR CITY: AN EMERGING CHALLENGE. Indian J Forensic Community Med 2015;2(2):82-86

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