Comparison of mental health between elderly admitted in sanitarium with elderly in sited in personal home

Background: Increasing in elderely population, social and economical changes in the living style, have made it difficult for many people to assume the responsibility of taking care of old aged adults in the family, consequently institutions become the inevitable home for many older adults. The aim of this study was to compare mental health of institutionalized and community living elderly in Kermanshah.

Methods: The study was a cross-analysis one. One hundred and twenty seven community livings (83 male and 44 female) and the same number of institutionalized persons were selected using the  convenient sampling method. General health questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used for collection of data. Data were analyzed by  t  test and ANOVA.

Results: The institutionalized aged adults gained higher mean scores in all the four subscales of GHQ-28. The findings showed a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of depression, somatic symptoms, and social dysfunction between two groups. The women living in institutions showed more severe social dysfunction compared to the men counterparts.

Conclusion: Our study revealed more frequency in depression, somatisation and social dysfunction in aged people, residents in instilues compared with home residents.