Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression among Institutionalized Elderly in Kerala

Aging is a social problem and is often studied from the point of view of one or more of the basic perspectives. From the functionalist perspective, aging is a problem because institutions of modern societies are not working well enough to serve the needs of the dependent aged. The extended families which once allowed elderly people to live out their lives among kin has been weakened by greater sociomobility and a shift to the nuclear family as the basic kinship unit. As grandparents, for example, once played an important role in socializing the young, teaching them the skills, values, and ways of life of their people. Now these functions are performed by schools and colleges, for it is assumed that the elderly cannot understand or master the skills required in today’s fast changing world. Instead, they most often are cared for either at home or institution such as old age homes, which free the productive member of society to perform other functions. Purpose of the current study was to examine effect of cognitive behavior therapy for depression among institutionalized elderly.