Assessment and Comparison of Cognitive Impairment among the Elderly Population residing in Old Age Homes and in Personal Home Settings

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment is a significant, yet often overlooked, public health issue in India, especially when compared to more developed nations. For older Indians, an undiagnosed cognitive decline can progress to dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Since there is currently no cure, the primary focus is on timely preventive measures to lessen the disease burden.

Aim: The research aimed to assess and compare the differences in cognitive impairment among older individuals residing in old age homes versus those living in their own homes.

Methodology: This cross-sectional investigation collected data from two groups of older adults 50 living in the community and 50 residing in old age homes to measure cognitive function with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Frequencies and percentages were used to present categorical variables such as gender, age group, educational level, and marital status. The Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to compare cognitive function across its different dimensions (orientation, registration, attention and calculation, repetition/recall, and language) for the two groups of elderly individuals.

Results: Older adults in old age homes scored significantly lower on the total MMSE score than those in the community (p=0.039). This cognitive gap is particularly evident in language skills, where a significant difference was also observed (p=0.024). Using an MMSE score of less than 24 as the cutoff for cognitive decline, the study found that 42.7% of old age home residents, versus 21.3% of community dwellers, showed signs of impairment, a statistically significant difference (p=0.026).

Conclusion: The incidence of cognitive decline was higher among older adults living in old age homes compared to those in the community. Improving living arrangements offers a practical way to preserve cognitive function in older people.