Relationship between Activities of Daily Living, Sleep and Depression among the Aged Living at Home

Objective: This study aimed at determining the relationship between daily living activities, sleep and depression among individuals 60 years or older living at home. Methodology: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 166 patients of a family health center between December 2010 and March 2011. Data were collected via Questionnaire Form, Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Geriatric Depression Scale- short form (GDS_SF), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: The participants’ mean age was 67.34±6.5, 78.9% had chronic diseases and 29.5% had walking problems. In words 56.8% had poor sleep, 26.5% had depressive symptoms and the majority were independent in ADL. A negative relationship was observed between ADL score and PSQI and GDS but a positive one between PSQI and GDS (p 0.05). Conclusions: Although individuals’ elderly people living at home are independent in basic ADL, they are displaying considerable depressive symptoms and having sleep problems.