Abstract
Background: Health is serious matter for the elderly people especially living in old aged homes. In this context, this study has tried to explore the health status of elderly people living in old aged homes.
 Methods: Information were collected from fifty seven elderly people living in purposively selected three major old aged homes of Pokhara by using structured questionnaire through interview techniques. The elderly people, who were unable to speak, hear, complete the interview process, have severe psychiatric disorder, did not have verbal consent to participate were excluded from the study. Descriptive analysis was carried out for this research.
 Results: Majority (87.7%) of the respondents had chronic physical health problem like back pain problem as major followed by other musculoskeletal problems, gastrointestinal disease, hypertension, respiratory problem, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, eyes and ears problem. The proportion of female was higher than male regarding their chronic physical health problem. Majority went to hospital when they were sick. Half of the respondents were worried about economic insecurity followed by lack of social relation, lack of treatment during illness, fear of future, lack of recreational activities, food management of old age homes, environment of elderly official, sitting and sleeping environment of elderly home and others respectively. All the respondents prayed god to cope with these stress followed by listening to religious hymns, go to religious places, solitary living, crying alone, and take cigarettes/alcohols.
 Conclusions: Health status of elderly people living in old aged home was not good since most of the elderly were suffered from chronic physical health problem. Females are more vulnerable.
Highlights
Old aged homes are the places which provide food and shelter for the elderly people
Three major old aged homes in Pokhara i.e. Pokhara Aged Shelter having 50 elderly people located at Pokhara-17, Sitapaila, Batsyayan Aged Shelter having 15 elderly people located at Pokhara-18, Batchchibuduwa, and Radha Krishna Senior Citizen Residence having 45 elderly people located at Pokhara-32, Tallo Gagangauda were selected purposively
Out of 50 respondents having CPHP, more than four fifth (82%) of the respondents were suffering from back pain problem followed by other musculoskeletal problem (74%), gastrointestinal disease (74%), hypertension (46%), respiratory problem (36%), diabetes mellitus (36%), heart disease (26%) and other physical health problems (8%) like eyes problems and ears problem
Summary
Old aged homes are the places which provide food and shelter for the elderly people. Some of those elders are discarded by their sons because they are very old to be taken care of and some of those elders may not have children or relatives to live with[1]. Health is serious matter for the elderly people especially living in old aged homes. In this context, this study has tried to explore the health status of elderly people living in old aged homes. Conclusions: Health status of elderly people living in old aged home was not good since most of the elderly were suffered from chronic physical health problem.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.