Abstract
BACKGROUND: Old-age homes provide crucial care for elderly individuals facing physical, mental, or social challenges. Ensuring their psychosocial well-being is vital for fulfilling life. This study addresses the gap in the literature by comprehensively assessing factors like anxiety, feeling of security, and desire for longevity aiming to inform interventions for better support systems in old-age homes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Methodologically, a cross-sectional design was employed involving 100 elder populations in Pune City, Maharashtra. The time taken to conduct the study was 1 month. Data was collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) tools. Interviews were conducted personally, with assistance from caretakers, maintained confidentiality, and addressed social gerontological considerations. RESULT: The study findings revealed that the majority of male participants (78%) expressed a desire for a longer and healthier life, while a smaller percentage (22%) showed no interest in longevity. Among females, (85%) expressed a wish for an extended life with improved mental and physical health, while (15%) expressed no such desire. However, the correlation between anxiety and feelings of security did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these findings emphasize the significance of seeing individual preferences in conniving interventions aimed at promoting psychosocial well-being in such settings. Furthermore, the lack of statistically significant correlation between anxiety and feelings of security suggests the complexity of factors influencing the mental and emotional states of elderly individuals in institutional care.