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Aim: The rate of depression is increasing among the elderly population of Turkey. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of living in a nursing home on depressive symptoms.
Methods: The study was conducted in May 2001 among 97 elders, who live in a nursing home (NH), and 97 community-dwelling (CD) elders. The individuals who were enrolled in the study were matched according to age and sex and did not suffer from dementia. All of the elderly completed a questionnaire concerning their medical and social status and history. Each individual received a rating on the Geriatric Depression Screening Scale. Data were analysed using the chi-square test and enter-method logistic regression.
Results: Seventy-eight (80.4%) of the NH group and 46 (47.4%) of the CD elders had depressive symptoms and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (x2 =34.60, df=1, p<0.0005). The depressive symptoms were higher in elders living in NH (OR=2.93; 95% CI: 1.20-7.20), elders with no hobby (OR=2.70; 95% CI: 1.20- 6.10), uneducated elders (OR=2.64; 95% CI: 1.16-5.99), in the women (OR=2.45; 95% CI: 1.04-5.76), and elderly individuals who have more diseases (OR=1.64; 95% CI: 1.11-2.41).
Conclusion: Besides other risk factors, dwelling in a nursing home seems to be an important risk factor for depressive symptoms in the elderl