A Study on Trends of Mental illness and Level of Disability among the Elderly Patients in an Area of Kolkata

The present study aimed to explore the trends of mental illness and level of disability among the elderly patients in an area of Kolkata. Accordingly, data had collected from purposively selected sample of 20 elderly (10 Pre senile, 50 % and 10 Senile, 50 %) patients. The psychiatric case history report and specially designed interview responses of patients were gathered to analyze the level of mental illness and disabilities. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used for treatment of data. Interpreted results highlighted that depression and dementia are the common symptoms of mental illness of the elderly population. Besides, severity of symptoms and pattern of disability indicated variation in terms of stage of old age (Pre senile and senile).