Author:
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Abeer
Khaled Al-Baho
Abdullah Al-Salem Clinic for Family Medicine, Abdullah Al-Salem
area, Kuwait
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Correspondence:
Dr. Abeer Khaled Al-Baho,
Abdullah Al-Salem Clinic for Family Medicine,
Abdullah Al-Salem area, Kuwait.
Tel: (Office) + 965 2562372;
T el/fax:+ 965 2533134
E-mail: abeerkhaled@hotmail.com
Key words:
elderly, independence, quality of
social support, self-dependence for activities of daily living, socio-demographic
characteristics
Abstract
Objectives: To study the socio-demographic and health characteristics of Kuwaiti elderly patients 65 years of age
and above and the factors influencing their self-dependence
for the performance of activities of daily living (ADL).
Design: An observational study of a random sample of
Kuwaiti elderly patients 65-year-old and above; 113
patients included.
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Setting: Abdullah Al- Salem area
/ Kuwait 1998-2000.
Main outcome measures: A description of the major
socio-demographic and health characteristics; and
determination of the major factors influencing self-dependence for
the performance of ADL.
Results: The majority were below 85 years of age (74.3%),
married (65%), having hearing defects (80%) and visual defects (91%),
17.8% were demented and 25% showed evidence of depression. These patients
were mainly self-dependent for ADL (64%) and there was no significant
correlation of self-dependence to the adequacy of social support,
to sex or to the medical diseases the patient had. Out of 113 patients,
87 were seen in the clinic and 26 were seen at home. Mann-Whitney
comparison test showed high statistical significance (P = 0.00) when
comparing those seen in the clinic to those seen at home in relation
to their age, marital status, mobility, general mental state, self-dependence,
general appearance and nutritional state.
Conclusions: Age, psycho-mental status and physical
status have tremendous effects on self-dependence for
ADL. Although nothing can stop aging, a lot can be done to encourage
preventive initiatives to help maintain physical independence.
 
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