Self-Care Ability of the Elderly and Related Factors

Background: Self-care ability is a determinant factor in managing the daily lives of the elderly. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate self-care ability in the elderly and related factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, elderly people admitted to educational and medical hospitals in Zanjan in ۲۰۲۱ were selected by convenience sampling and ۱۷۵ people over ۶۰ years old evaluated with questionnaire including demographic information and self-care ability scale for elderly. Mean (standard deviation), frequency (percentage) and independent sample t-test were used to analyze data in SPSS ۲۳. Results: The mean (SD) score of elderly self-care in this study was ۵۳.۸۶ (۱.۴۱). The results showed that self-care ability is low in most participants (۶۸%). Women have significantly higher self-care ability than men (P=۰.۰۱۸). With increased age, Self-care ability decreased (P=۰.۰۰۰۱). In illiterate and lower educated people, self-care ability is significantly lower (P=۰.۰۰۰۱), and also rural residents have significantly less self-care ability than urban residents (P=۰.۰۰۰۱). Elderly people who were married (P=۰.۰۰۰۱) and had a source of income (P=۰.۰۰۰۱) had a better level of self-care. Conclusion: Self-care ability is low in most elderly people, and self-care ability is worse in men, illiterate people, and villagers and self-care ability decreases with increasing age. It is suggested that simple programs be developed according to the age and level of literacy of the elderly.

Keywords:

self-care , self-care ability , elderly , aged