On knoledge regarding psychosocial problems of elderly among nursing students at selected colleges,tumkur performa for registration of subject

Old age is not a matter for sorrow . It is matter for thanks tf we have left our work done behind us –Thomas carlyle .Nothing can remain static in this world.This is true for the human body too. Biologically speaking the aging process starts the moment we come into this world. The regulatory activities start slowing down with age and brings about an increased vulnerability to illness and decreasing adaptability to environmental stresses and strains.¹ The process of ageing can bring mental as well as physical challenges, and just as physical diseases become more common with age, so the mental health may be increasingly threatened²

The term ‘old age’ refers to the last period of human life, above 65 years. Late adulthood usually begins at the age of 60 years. Though middle and late adulthood may not be clearly demarcated by any physical or intellectual transformation, the gerontological approach to studying the aged and the ageing process classifies elderly people into two categories: (i) the young old, who constitute the majority of older people irrespective of their actual age and are vital, vigorous and active; (ii) the old, who are frail and infirm and form the majority.³ Some developmentalists distinguish between the young old (65–75 years) and the old old (75 years and above).⁴ Some other investigators distinguished the oldest old (85 years) and older from younger old.⁵ As per the WHO guidelines people 60–74 years of age are called elderly and those between 75 and 85+ years of age as old. The oldest old are more likely to be female and they have a higher rate of morbidity than their younger counterparts. This differentiation of late adulthood into sub-periods of development is heterogeneous. Even the oldest old are a heterogeneous, diversified group.⁶

A significant proportion of the population in India is old. This population will go on increasing due to improved medical facilities and a reduced child mortality rate. India is a developing country with enormous resources. India is presently the second-largest country in the world. The absolute numbers will increase from 7.6 million in 2001 to 137 million by 2021. The percentage growth in the elderly population is almost double the rate of increase in the general population. This means that the burden of the older population will have to be borne by the younger, adult working group.⁷  Major issues of the elderly include their dependence in both rural (50.8%) and urban areas (57.3%). Lower rates of dependence in the rural areas show that rural families are supportive of their elderly. Moreover, elderly rural males continue to work as long as their health permits. Most of them are either day labourers or cultivators. Life expectancy has increased enormously from 42 years in 1947 to 65 years today. But the sad part is that geriatric care continues to be as neglected as ever. There is no progress in the management of common geriatric illnesses and much less so for geriatric psychiatric illnesses.⁸

The health problems of the elderly are complicated by social, economic and psychological interactions to a greater degree . Moreover, these problems are usually multiple and are often marked by sensory and cognitive impairments so that special skills are required to detect them. Psychological symptoms were also more encountered among females; feeling of depression among females was 2.31 times higher than males ⁹

Psychosocial factors increasing vulnerability to mental or emotional illness. which comprises:- Female sex : More elderly women than men are prone to developing psychological problems, Widowed state : Recent death of spouse, loss of companionships, income etc. Unemployed condition leading to insecurity and dependency on others. Low social class : Lack of awareness, leading to neglect of problem. Living alone for nuclear families : Social isolation, Inability to cope. Physical illness or disability. Sensory deficit : Impaired vision or hearing. Special stressors : Retirement, loss of status, fall in income, loss of health, lack of purpose in life etc.

Psychiatirc disorders in old age are mainly Depression , Anxiety Disorders, Hyprochondriases, Paranoid Disorders, Organic Mental Syndrome; Delirium, Dementia Today old age does not necessarily spell death, disease and despair. if one plans for old age economically and psychosocially and seek early treatment if problems arise, there is life beyond sixties.^{1 .} One of the reasons why psychological disorders in the elderly are more difficult to diagnose is that few people expect these issues. Instead, they may credit the isolation to aging or diminished social circles. The elderly fail to report these issues to health care providers and receive treatment from specialists in mental health care at far lower rates than the general public. Some disorders may appear to be common to aging, such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, yet are not related to the aging process.¹⁰