Geriatrics & Gerontological Nursing

Background: Older people in India have to look after themselves due to the nuclear family system and also as children are not staying with them due to reasons such as acquiring higher education or employment at distant places. These factors coupled with deteriorating health due advancement of age & change in value system & the attitude amongst children who give more importance to materialism, it was felt necessary to find modalities to empower & strengthen ex-servicemen by Yoga.

 

Methods: An interventional “Before & After study” was planned for a period of three months for in-patient a hospital for common lifestyle diseases namely Stroke, Diabetes, Senile Depression, Acute Myocardial Infarction & Hypertension. Data on anthropometry, laboratory investigations & Hamilton Depression Score was taken before the study. The 58 elderly subjects aged between 47 to 94 yrs who were already/ freshly admitted & other set of 58 subjects (A total of 116) who reported on daily outdoor basis during the period of study, were having mild to moderate complications due to Life style diseases were enrolled in a Military Hospital at the time of study, were selected. These cases were then subjected to interventions by Yoga for three months followed by measurement of anthropometry, laboratory investigations and Hamilton Depression Score again.

 

Results: Statistically significant differences were observed before & after study with respect to pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL & Hamilton Depression Score (p 0.05). The sleep pattern, sense of well being, posture while sitting to standing and walking with degree of support (stick/other person’s help) improved considerably after the Yoga.

 

Conclusion: Elderly are recommended to be trained on yoga in by employing part time trainers of yoga. The effect of yoga results in better capability to deal with old age without much support.