Comparative experience of psychological symptoms of frail elderly people in need of residential care

Quota samples were drawn from those who are in the waiting list of the Care and Attention Homes and Infirmary, and those who are living in the government subvented Care and Attention homes (C&A homes, designed for those who require some nursing and personal care) and infirmaries (for the frail ones), and unregistered private nursing homes. Respondents aged 70 to 80 were selected, as most on the waiting lists and currently in institutions are within this age range. A total of 202 elderly were interviewed, and 162 were included in the final analysis. Findings indicated that those living in the Care and Attention Homes run by the Government, which presumably meet the sample needs adequately, have the lowest depression level and highest level of satisfaction with care when compared to their counterparts in other type of institutions. On the other hand, those receiving services in those unregistered private homes and infirmary, in which services were offered at a level lower than their needs, have the highest level of depression among samples studied. The study was carried out between March 1991 to December 1992.