Depressive Symptoms and Correlates among Older Adults Residing in Old-age Homes in Chennai, India

Background: With a rapid increase in the aging population of India, depression among the elderly is a rising concern, particularly those habituated in the institutional settings. The present study investigated the prevalence and determinants of depression among older adults residing in old-age homes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in government, private, and non-governmental organization (NGO)/trust run old-age homes in Chennai. Four hundred and thirty-four older adults (45 years and above) living in those old age homes were included in the study. A structured questionnaire with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and sociodemographic details was administered for the data collection. Data were analyzed using STATA 17. Descriptive analysis, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Results: The findings showed that 27% of older adults living in old age homes had severe and 36% had moderate depression. Higher odds of depression were found in those who were living in urban area, widows, earlier belonging to joint families, staying in old-age homes for more than 5 years, having financial encumbrance, receiving financial/medical support from family, and working while residing in old-age homes. However, those aged above 65 years, residing in NGO/trust-operated homes, and practicing yoga have lesser odds of depression. Conclusion: The higher prevalence of depressive symptoms among older adults in old-age homes indicates the pressing need to integrate mental health care into elderly care services and to develop supportive policies that enhance the psychosocial well-being of India’s growing elderly population.