Study Of Health Profile of Residents of Geriatric Home in Ahmedabad District

Background: Aging is a normal process. The modernization plays a vital role in aging process of an individual. The aged feel a sense of social isolation because of disjunction from various bonds viz work relationships, and diminish of relatives and friends, mobility of children to far off places for jobs. The situation of the elderly still worsens when there is presence of chronic diseases, physical incapacity and financial stringency. Objective: To know the health profile and health related problems of the old age inmates residing at geriatric homes. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in geriatric homes of urban and peri urban areas of Ahmedabad during January 2008 to January 2009. Result: Out of total 530 inmates, 45.85% were males and 54.15% were females. 93.77% reported one or more health related complaints. 37.4% were obese and 11.9% were underweight. Most common presenting symptoms were: loss of teeth (70%), joint pain (60.2%), impaired vision (44.2%), weakness (34.9%), and insomnia (34%). 82.3% were using spectacles followed by walking sticks (21.7%) and denture (12.8%). The main health related problems were osteoarthritis (54.9%), hypertension (54.2%), cataract (16%) and diabetes mellitus (14.9%). Conclusion: The study highlighted a high prevalence of morbidity and health related problems in old age groups. We need to strengthen geriatric health care services, social support by people, proper implementation of geriatric related legislation by government and further research like qualitative research to explore the problems of the elderly

A Study to Assess the Availability of Basic Facilities for Inmates in Geriatric Home, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Background: Ageing is a normal physiological process for human being, but modernization and globalization have disintegrated the Indian family system and elders are focused to stay in geriatric homes. The care for the aged is slowly shifting from the family to geriatric homes. Objective: To study the function of geriatric homes, background information and reasons for shifting to geriatric home. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in geriatric homes of urban and periurban areas of Ahmedabad during January 2008 to January 2009. Result: All the geriatric homes were nongovernment organization. Out of total (13) geriatric homes, majority (76.9%) of them have the criteria for enrolment was the cut off age as 60 years or above. Out of total 530 inmates, 380(71.7%) inmates having children, out of them, maximum number of inmates had either two (28.9%) or three (23.9 %) children. According to education of inmates 29.6%were secondary and 25.5% were primary education. Among marital status of inmates, 78.8% were widow/widower. Familial conflict (53.6%) was major reason for shifting at geriatric home. Overcrowding was present in 38.5 % geriatric homes according to person per floor area. Majority of geriatric homes were having TV, library, garden, kitchen, availability of newspaper and adequate lighting, ventilation, water supply. Only 7.7% of geriatric homes had full time doctor while 61.5% had part time doctor. 84.6% of old age homes had paid staff of institute for sweeping and mopping and for cleaning utensils

Health Profile of Elderly Persons in Urban and Rural Field Practice Areas of Medical College Himmatnagar, Gujarat

Background: Care of old age people is becomes a big social problem due to urbanization, nuclearisation of family, migration, and dual career. The objective of this study was to assess socio-demographic condition and health problems among elder people in rural and urban population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in RHTC and UHTC of a Medical College in Himmatnagar during Jan to Sept 2016. House to house survey was carried out and 175 elder individual more than 60 years age were included in the study. Results: 34.9% & 64.6% participants were illiterate and 13.4% % 8.0% were residing alone, 17.2% & 32.6% had restricted mobility, 30.3% & 38.3% had inadequate sleep problems, 22.9% & 27.4% was overweight, higher blood pressure among 57.14% & 37.71%in rural and urban area respectively and mean BMI was 22.9 ± 12.82 & 23.59 ± 4.68 in rural and urban area respectively. Conclusion: Major requirement for interventions to ensure the health of this susceptible group and to initiate a policy to address the care and needs of the disabled elderly