Health and psychosocial status of the older people living alone in a community
Keywords:
psycho-social support, psychosocial, older people living alone, health status, mental healthAbstract
This descriptive research aimed to study the health and psychosocial status of older people living alone in the community. Sample were 50 older people living alone in the community, which were recruited using purposive sampling. The data were collected between May and August 2022. The tools for data collection consisted of 1) a general information questionnaire 2) a general health screening form for the older people, 3) an ability routine ability assessment (Barthel Activities of Daily Living: ADL), and 4) the 6-Item Revised University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale (RULS-6) and 5) the 15-item Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS-15). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including percentage, mean and standard deviation.
The study found that all of the sample were at risk of oral and dental disease, while most (94%) were at risk of malnutrition. Half (50%) were at risk of falling. Regarding psychosocial status, it was found that more than half (52%) had a feeling of loneliness at a moderate level. Most (96%) had normal results of depression screening, whereas 4 percent had depression. The results of this study led to the design of a unique care system covering physical and social dimensions for the older people living alone in the community.
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