Contact with family: A boost for mental health of institutionalised elderly

Pages: 902-905
Ritu Singh, Kusha Pant, and Pooja Lohia (Departments of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Home Science G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand)

The present study was an attempt to explore the level of stress, anxiety and depression among institutionalized elderly of Uttarakhand with respect to their extent of contact with the family. The sample comprised of 100 institutionalized elderly. Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scale by Bhatnagar et al. (2011) was administered to identify the levels of stress, anxiety and depression among respondents. The findings of the present study reflected that institutionalized elderly who were in contact with their families through any means were significantly less stressed, anxious and depressed than those who had no contact with their families. The result of the study highlights the necessity of contact with family for mental health of institutionalized elderly who are put in old age homes due to any reason.