Determining depression, abuse and neglect in elderly individuals

This descriptive study was conducted to determine depression, abuse, and neglect in elderly individuals. The research was conducted in 3 Family Health Centers (FHC) at Gaziantep between March and August 2011. The sample of the research consisted of 315 elderly individuals who applied to FHCs for treatment. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Form, Elder Abuse Assessment Form, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Emotional abuse, neglect, economic abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse were detected in 51.4%, 35.6%, 21.9%, 3.8% and 0.03% of the elderly individuals, respectively. It was observed that elderly individuals in the advanced age group experienced only emotional abuse, while women, singletons, those with low education level, those without an income of their own, and those who could not perform their self-care experienced both emotional abuse and neglect to a greater extent (p<0.05). Women and those with low education level were exposed to physical abuse, and those with an income of their own were exposed to economic abuse to a greater extent (p<0.05). The elderly individuals in regions with low socioeconomic level were found to have experienced more neglect and economic abuse (p<0.05). The mean GDS total score of the elderly individuals was determined as 17.11±6.19. According to GDS, 68.3% of the elderly individuals showed symptoms of depression at a significant level. Mean depression scores were found to be higher in those who were in the advanced age group, women and singletons, those with low education level and chronic disease, those with low level of income, those who lived alone, those who could not perform their self-care, and those who had suicidal thoughts (p<0.05). The elderly individuals who were exposed to physical, emotional abuse and neglect had higher mean depression scores compared to those who were not (p<0.05). As a result of this study, is quite high levels of depression in the elderly, exposure to emotional abuse, neglect and economic abuse, respectively, was observed more frequently. Therefore, it is important that symptoms of abuse and neglect are recognized, risk factors are known, and the awareness of families, society, and health professionals is increased in order to prevent depression, abuse, and neglect in elderly individuals.