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Mental health problems in old homes of Pakistan

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Tabi Khan
Tabi Khan

The document discusses mental health problems in older adults living in old homes in Pakistan. It notes that many older adults experience physical, social, and psychological health issues that can lead to chronic diseases and illnesses. However, the research presented found that older adults living in old homes in Islamabad and Rawalpindi seemed happy and satisfied. They had recovered from previous medical conditions with the homes' help and were in good mental and physical health. The old homes provided a clean, organized environment and friendly relationships, supporting the mental well-being of their residents.

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Mental Health Problems In Older Adults Living In Old Homes
 Globally, the population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double, from 12% to 22%.  Older adults, those aged 60 or above, are at risk of developing mental disorders depending on their circumstances.  Many older adults living in Pakistan experience significant level of physical, social and psychological health problems, leading to increased burden of chronic diseases, disabilities, and psychiatric illnesses.  Elderly populations above 55 years with depression have four times higher death rate than those without depression (WHO Report).  Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa.  Mental health problems or psychological problems are under-identified by health- care professionals and older people themselves, and the stigma surrounding mental illness makes people reluctant sometimes to seek help.
The older adults who live in old homes or shelter homes develop more mental health problems than the physical health problems.
 In Pakistan, depression, anxiety and dementia are the most common psychiatric disorder among elderly population that cannot be neglected (Bhamani, Karim& Khan, 2013).  In United States, the rate of prevalence of depression is high as 40% where as in Pakistan it is as high as 66% among elderly (Javed& Mustafa, 2013).  Health care system in Pakistan lacks geriatric clinics and they are treated by general or family physicians (Ganatra, Zafar, Qidwai, Rozi, 2008).  Health care professionals lack training to deal with special issues of this age group (Qidwai & Ashwaq, 2011).  A national policy for the promotion of better health of the elderly was designed in 1999, and it involved training of health care professionals in geriatrics and other areas, but implementation is yet to be seen (Subzwari & Azhar, 2010).  The older adults with evidence of mental health problems are less likely than younger and middle aged adults to receive mental health services (Karel, Gatz & Smyer, 2012).  There has been no population based study on mental health of older adults who live in old homes conducted in Pakistan (Bhamani, Karim& Khan, 2013).
 The trend of leaving parents in old homes has increased since 2001. Besides, Dar-ul- Affiat, there are more than nine private old homes in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.  “Older adults residing in an old homes come with many psychological problems like depression and anxiety but staff in older homes try their best to provide them basic facilities and help them recover” said Capt. (retired) Ruqia Bibi, who takes care of old people at Dar-ul-Affiat.  While people may hold firm to the belief that ‘abandoning’ a parent is against social and religious mores in Pakistan, there is one advantage to such institutions. “They get a chance to socialise with people of the same age bracket,” says Dr Rizwan Taj, who working as psychiatrist and often visit Edhi Home Islamabad.  “Some of the elderly people come with psychosomatic disorders. They assume they are not well. We schedule their meetings with psychiatrist, who help them recovering. After sometime they start feeling normal,” said a nurse in Dar-ul-Affiat.
 Dr. Taj (psychiatrist) said that “old homes try their best to provide elderly people good environment and basic facilities and necessities of life. Old people who think they have been dumped and they are useless start feeling better after interacting with other people in old homes.”  Dr Hussain (psychiatrist) said according to his experience people who are living in old homes more than two years are living healthy life as compared to their life with family. They do miss their families but its not like they feel depressed or isolated.  Majority of the elderly people who were interviewed in the old homes told that they are more happy in old homes than their own homes.  They said they are treated well here, they get good food on time, they don’t have to worry about anything. They do not wish to go back to their families. However they all miss their families and wish to meet them.
 The older adults who are living in old homes in Islamabad and Rawalpindi seem to be happy and satisfied. They told about their medical conditions they had when they came and how they recovered with the help of management. It is noted that most of them were in good mental and physical health.  The old homes are found to be clean and organized. The people had all the facilities.
 It is noted the elderly people and the staff members have a friendly relationship. They have freedom to do anything. The staff and people who are living in old homes informed that they participate in recreational activities. Two of them were busy in gardening with one staff member. Some of them are now assisting staff members to help new people in settling in.
 They do miss their families and get upset on occasions when no one comes to meet them from their families. But during the interviews it was noticed that they kept referring old homes as their permanent home. Most of them said that they do not wish to go back to their homes and would spend whole life in old home. They said that the management fulfills their needs without any demands. The staff of old homes look after them very well and provide all kinds of assistance.  The doctors’ information tell us that it is likely that these people become victims of depression, anxiety and dementia easily considering their circumstances back in their homes however the old homes staff try their best to look after them and treat them as family members.  The information collected through interviews is not consistent with the information noted in literature review.
 The hypothesis of this research documents is “The older adults who live in old homes or shelter homes develop more mental health problems than the physical health problems.” The information collected during the research does not support the hypothesis. The elderly people/older adults seem to be in good mental and physical health.  Their stories tell that they were victims of mental health problems before coming to old homes. After they spent some time in old homes they realized that they are in better place and started recovering from different diseases.  They appreciate the management of the old homes for looking after them and providing them all facilities. They also appreciate the staff members who assist them in everything on daily basis.  The conclusion of this research does not favor the hypothesis yet give a new statement; “the old homes help older adults in providing them shelter and recovering from different mental and physical problems.”

More Related Content

Mental health problems in old homes of Pakistan

  • 1. Mental Health Problems In Older Adults Living In Old Homes
  • 2.  Globally, the population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double, from 12% to 22%.  Older adults, those aged 60 or above, are at risk of developing mental disorders depending on their circumstances.  Many older adults living in Pakistan experience significant level of physical, social and psychological health problems, leading to increased burden of chronic diseases, disabilities, and psychiatric illnesses.  Elderly populations above 55 years with depression have four times higher death rate than those without depression (WHO Report).  Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa.  Mental health problems or psychological problems are under-identified by health- care professionals and older people themselves, and the stigma surrounding mental illness makes people reluctant sometimes to seek help.
  • 3. The older adults who live in old homes or shelter homes develop more mental health problems than the physical health problems.
  • 4.  In Pakistan, depression, anxiety and dementia are the most common psychiatric disorder among elderly population that cannot be neglected (Bhamani, Karim& Khan, 2013).  In United States, the rate of prevalence of depression is high as 40% where as in Pakistan it is as high as 66% among elderly (Javed& Mustafa, 2013).  Health care system in Pakistan lacks geriatric clinics and they are treated by general or family physicians (Ganatra, Zafar, Qidwai, Rozi, 2008).  Health care professionals lack training to deal with special issues of this age group (Qidwai & Ashwaq, 2011).  A national policy for the promotion of better health of the elderly was designed in 1999, and it involved training of health care professionals in geriatrics and other areas, but implementation is yet to be seen (Subzwari & Azhar, 2010).  The older adults with evidence of mental health problems are less likely than younger and middle aged adults to receive mental health services (Karel, Gatz & Smyer, 2012).  There has been no population based study on mental health of older adults who live in old homes conducted in Pakistan (Bhamani, Karim& Khan, 2013).
  • 5.  The trend of leaving parents in old homes has increased since 2001. Besides, Dar-ul- Affiat, there are more than nine private old homes in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.  “Older adults residing in an old homes come with many psychological problems like depression and anxiety but staff in older homes try their best to provide them basic facilities and help them recover” said Capt. (retired) Ruqia Bibi, who takes care of old people at Dar-ul-Affiat.  While people may hold firm to the belief that ‘abandoning’ a parent is against social and religious mores in Pakistan, there is one advantage to such institutions. “They get a chance to socialise with people of the same age bracket,” says Dr Rizwan Taj, who working as psychiatrist and often visit Edhi Home Islamabad.  “Some of the elderly people come with psychosomatic disorders. They assume they are not well. We schedule their meetings with psychiatrist, who help them recovering. After sometime they start feeling normal,” said a nurse in Dar-ul-Affiat.
  • 6.  Dr. Taj (psychiatrist) said that “old homes try their best to provide elderly people good environment and basic facilities and necessities of life. Old people who think they have been dumped and they are useless start feeling better after interacting with other people in old homes.”  Dr Hussain (psychiatrist) said according to his experience people who are living in old homes more than two years are living healthy life as compared to their life with family. They do miss their families but its not like they feel depressed or isolated.  Majority of the elderly people who were interviewed in the old homes told that they are more happy in old homes than their own homes.  They said they are treated well here, they get good food on time, they don’t have to worry about anything. They do not wish to go back to their families. However they all miss their families and wish to meet them.
  • 7.  The older adults who are living in old homes in Islamabad and Rawalpindi seem to be happy and satisfied. They told about their medical conditions they had when they came and how they recovered with the help of management. It is noted that most of them were in good mental and physical health.  The old homes are found to be clean and organized. The people had all the facilities.
  • 8.  It is noted the elderly people and the staff members have a friendly relationship. They have freedom to do anything. The staff and people who are living in old homes informed that they participate in recreational activities. Two of them were busy in gardening with one staff member. Some of them are now assisting staff members to help new people in settling in.
  • 9.  They do miss their families and get upset on occasions when no one comes to meet them from their families. But during the interviews it was noticed that they kept referring old homes as their permanent home. Most of them said that they do not wish to go back to their homes and would spend whole life in old home. They said that the management fulfills their needs without any demands. The staff of old homes look after them very well and provide all kinds of assistance.  The doctors’ information tell us that it is likely that these people become victims of depression, anxiety and dementia easily considering their circumstances back in their homes however the old homes staff try their best to look after them and treat them as family members.  The information collected through interviews is not consistent with the information noted in literature review.
  • 10.  The hypothesis of this research documents is “The older adults who live in old homes or shelter homes develop more mental health problems than the physical health problems.” The information collected during the research does not support the hypothesis. The elderly people/older adults seem to be in good mental and physical health.  Their stories tell that they were victims of mental health problems before coming to old homes. After they spent some time in old homes they realized that they are in better place and started recovering from different diseases.  They appreciate the management of the old homes for looking after them and providing them all facilities. They also appreciate the staff members who assist them in everything on daily basis.  The conclusion of this research does not favor the hypothesis yet give a new statement; “the old homes help older adults in providing them shelter and recovering from different mental and physical problems.”