This study examined depression among elderly individuals living in geriatric homes compared to those attending geriatric clubs in Beni Suef, Egypt. The researchers assessed 145 elderly individuals using questionnaires on socioeconomic factors, health conditions, and depression symptoms. They found that 89.7% of individuals in geriatric homes suffered from depression, while 56.7% in geriatric clubs were depressed. Risk factors for depression included being single, widowed or divorced. The study concluded that depression is highly prevalent among institutionalized elderly and recommended increased community awareness, healthcare worker training, and social support programs.

1. Depression among elderly in Beni
Suef city (Upper Egypt)
Prof. Hani Hamed Dessoki, M.D.Psychiatry
Prof. Psychiatry
Chairman of Psychiatry Department.,Beni Suef University
Supervisor of Psychiatry Department, El-Fayoum University
Authors: Ekram M. El Shabrawy*, Hany H. El Desouky**, Eman El
Tahlawy***, AlShymaa M. Lotfy****
*MD.Community medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine Beni Suef
University
**MD.Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine Beni Suef University
*** MD.Community medicine, National Research Center Cairo University
****M.B.B.Ch. Faculty of Medicine Beni Suef University

2. Introduction
Depression is a medical illness in which the person has
feelings of sadness, discouragement and lack of selfworth, it can also be a sign of medical problem and may be
complicated by brain disorders that occur with age, such
as Alzheimer’s disease, it frequently goes without
diagnosis and treatment .

3. Introduction
Studies have shown a positive correlation between age
(especially 60 and older) and the presence of symptoms of
depression . The depression risk increases among elderly
living in nursing homes. Prevalence of depression in the
nursing home population is very high, three to four times
higher than in the community-dwelling elderly . Major
depression in nursing-home population range from 10-22%.

4. Introduction
According to the results of census of population and
housing facilities survey 2006 the proportion of the elderly
in Egypt (population 60 years and above) amounted to
about 6% of the total population, it is expected that the
proportion of elderly population in Egypt will be about 9%
by 2015 and then 12% by 2030. Egypt has its ingoing
problems about elderly population.
Beni Suef city was selected for the study as it is a
Governorate of Upper Egypt about 130 KM South to Cairo.
It is considered as one of the most deprived areas form
health care services and this may be due to its
geographical position near to Cairo. This issue encourages
most health care consumers to travel to the nearby Cairo
Governorate seeking for better level of Care .

5. Objectives
To find out the prevalence of depression among
elderly in geriatric homes in Beni Suef city in
comparison to those who live with their families
and attending (geriatric club).
To detect the underlying risk factors of
depression.

6. Subjects and Methods
The study was conducted in Beni Suef city in three
geriatric homes besides one geriatric club (the other two
clubs were inactive), from December 2008 till October 2009.
All the elderly above 60 years males and females who are
living in geriatric homes and those attending the geriatric
club were included (145) with the following Inclusion
criteria: A: Those living in Beni Suef city, B: Alert and
oriented to time, place and person.

7. Subjects and Methods
Data collection tools were:
A questionnaire: pre-tested on a small scale pilot study, its
results was not included. It contains, Socioeconomic data
(age, sex, former occupation, martial status, educational
level), Health condition (presence of chronic diseases as
diabetes or hypertension).
The used questionnaire was prepared in Arabic language
to ensure that all participants will understand the
questions

8. Subjects and Methods
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (Arabic version). Selfrated 30-item scale which has been recommended by the
Royal College of physicians, British Geriatric society as a
suitable method for screening of depression in the geriatric
age group and rating of its severity.

9. Subjects and Methods
Life Satisfaction Scale and Facing Daily Stressful Live
Events Scale-Arabic version- It is a 30-statements scale
that includes 3 subscales to which the subject agrees,
disagrees or is equivocal. It was designed to give an idea
about different strategies that can be used by the person to
face and adapt different daily stressful life events (different
coping skills).It was designed to assess the level of
satisfaction about life. The higher score indicates higher
level of satisfaction and comfort about life.

10. Subjects and Methods
Ethical considerations :All procedures of the
study were conducted after explaining to the
participants the study objectives, then consent
was taken at first from director of place then the
elderly and lastly from his family.

11. Results
89.7 % of elderly in geriatric homes suffer from depression
while only 56.7 % in geriatric clubs, the difference was
statistically significant (p value < 0.0001)
77.8% of the females suffering from depression while it is
only present in 67.4% of males (the difference was
insignificant at p>0.05)
There is no significant difference between depressed and
normal elderly as regards educational level.

12. Results
Depression was present among
100% of single, 80.9% among
divorced and the least among
married 67.4%, (the difference
was significant at p< 0.05)

13. Results
There is no statistical significant relation
between occurrence of depression and family
history of psychiatric disorder.
Hypertension constitutes 51.9%, 43.2% while
diabetes was present in 27.8% and 21.6% in the
depressed and none depressed elderly
respectively.

14. Results
There was statistical significant difference
between the elderly in geriatric homes and clubs
regarding the life satisfaction scales at p<0.00001
There was statistical significant negative
correlation at p<0.0001 between the total geriatric
depression scale and life satisfaction scale with
controlling the place of living, all parameters of
life satisfaction decrease with increasing the total
depression score.

15. Conclusion
Depression among elderly is one of the most important
public health problems. In Beni Suef city the depression
among the elderly in geriatric homes were more than
those living with their families and attending club.
Depression is common with those who suffer from
loneliness as single , widowed or divorced .There is no
relation in occurrence of depression with education ,
sex or family history of depression , the people in
geriatric homes cannot cope with stressful life events
and not satisfied with their life .
Depression has inverse relationship with the life events
the more depression severity the less satisfaction with
life.

16. Recommendations
There is a great need to increase the awareness
among community about the importance of
geriatric health and how depression is a silent
disorder among geriatric group who need more
love and care.
There must be a social and health programs
about the importance of family support for the
elderly in our community that will save a lot of
medical and hospital care cost , that is the
expense for medical illness associated with
depression.

17. Recommendations
Training of health care providers in the primary
health care centers for identification of risk
factors of depression , assessment of depression
among elderly and providing services in a
friendly manner.
Geriatric depression assessment, guidance and
support for any psychological and medical
problem are priority services for elderly, also
social relationships and activities are very
important.

18. Recommendations
Psycho-education of the elderly Egyptians about
the high incidence of depressive disorders in old
age, presentation and the availability of adequate
treatment with favorable outcome.
Strengthen social relationships and activities
besides encouraging visiting geriatric homes
either by their families or the civil societies which
are very important in preventing depression.