Depressive symptoms and associated factors: challenge for the institutionalized elderly care

Abstract

In view of the relevance of investigating the problems inherent to depression in institutionalized elderly people and, consequently, their impact in the context of ILPI, the objective is to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly people, as well as their associated factors. This is a quantitative cross-sectional survey of 108 elderly people living in all ILPI in the city of Divinópolis, MG, from November 2017 to June 2018. Data were collected through interviews with the elderly, with identification instruments, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini Mental State Exam and Katz Scale. Descriptive and variance analysis were used. The results showed that 46.3% of the elderly presented a prevalence of depressive symptoms, light or severe, and that this depressive condition is statistically associated with the elderly having no friends or good relationship in the ILPI, not attending the living area, not practicing leisure activities, disliking living in the ILPI, having chronic illness and making use of sleeping medication. It is concluded that emotional, social and health conditions may be related to depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly people.