Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part C (2018)

Introduction: India is a developing country and the number of elderly people is steadily increasing in India. The current elderly population of India is around 100 million (10.7%). The number of elderly getting admitted to hospital with various medico-psycho- social problem are also on a rise. WHO theme for the year 2017 is “Depression let’s Talk”. Keeping these views our group of four fourth year b.sc nursing ventured to assess the contributing factors leading to depression among elderly from selected community areas of Pune city.

Methodology: A quantitative, exploratory descriptive design was chosen for the study. The population under study was elderly people. The sample consisted of 200 elderly from selected community areas of Pune city. The tool used was semi structured questionnaire for factors leading to depression and GDS to assess the level of depression among elderly as a screening tool. If the depression level was more than 5 those elderly were taken into study. The sample was chosen by non-probability purposive sampling technique.

Results: In this study majority of sample were male, in the age group of 65 to 70 years. Maximum sample were with primary education, and doing business. Most of the sample had monthly income in the range of 10.000 to 50.000 and were living in joint family. Based on GDS maximum sample were in the moderate level of depression. The major physical or medical condition contributing to depression among elderly was hypertension, arthritis and eye problems. In behavioral and psychological factor maximum sample showed anger, anxiety/restlessness as the contributing factors. The major stressful life events contributing to depression was loss of relative or close friend. Association was found between the level of depression and financial depression and occupation. Association between the contributing factors and demographic variables was found in occupation at 0.05 level of significance.

Conclusion: Thus depression is found significantly more among elderly peoples due to ageing process and this enable us to care more tenderly towards them.