Some Psycho-Social Aspects of Old People Living Outside Their Families in Kuwait

Abstract

One hundred and ninety four elderly subjects were studied, 133 of whom were living away from their families, in the only old people's home and in the only psychiatric hospital in Kuwait. They were compared to 61 consecutive elderly subjects attending a psychiatric out-patient clinic. Psychiatric, social and clinical characteristics of subjects admitted and those living with their families were analysed and related to recent socioeconomic changes and conditions prevailing in Kuwait. Higher admission rates were significantly related to female sex, the widowed and single status and Kuwaiti and Bedouin nationalities. Low income or housing problems, poor relationships to their families and/or relatives, absence of an interested family member, a small number of own children, referral by family members on account of disabilities, organic brain syndromes or chronic psychiatric disorder was also associated with higher admission rates. Sixty four percent of the residents of the old people's home had psychiatric illnesses in spite of the official policy of excluding the mentally ill from admission. Some of the above mentioned characteristics were similar to findings in other countries, but others e.g. the role of nationality and location of residence in admission to institutions were different. Planning social and medical services in Kuwait should take these findings into account.

Factors Influencing Long-Term Psychiatric Hospitalisation of the Elderly in Kuwait

“…The association of poor family relationship with long hospital stay is not unexpected as it confirms previous reports (Grade, 1971;Malasi et al, 1988). This may be either a result or a cause of the psychiatric illness and for long-term hospitalisation.…”

“…Lower rates may be partly due to there being fewer elderly members in the general population e.g. 3.5 % of the Kuwaiti population is aged over 60 (Annual Statistical Abstract, 1988) and partly to the reluctance of both psychiatrists and families to admit elderly patients to psychiatric hospitals (Malasi et al 1988). Care and status are accorded to the elderly in Islamic societies particularly by the extended family (El-Islaril, 1985).…”

“…Moreover non-Kuwaitis are allowed to reside in Kuwait for only as long as they are employable and hence old non-Kuwaiti individuals who cannot obtain gainful employment leave Kuwait for their countries of origin (EI-Islam et al 1983;Malasi et al 1988). …”

“…The high prevalence of physical illness among elderly psychiatric patients has been almost universally reported (Kay & Bergmann, 1966;Dovenmuehl, 1968;Maule et al 1984;Malasi et al 1988). Multivariate loglinear model exploration of possible associations reveal that a combination of factors can interact and be significantly associated with long stay in hospital i.e.…”

“…In a recent study of the psychosocial factors in institutionalisation of the elderly in Kuwait, higher admission rates were found to be significantly related to female sex, widowhood, single status, Kuwaiti and Bedouin nationalities, poor socioeconomic standards, poor relationships to families or relatives and the presence of organic brain syndromes and chronic psychiatric disorders (Malasi et al 1988). Studies from different countries showed that many clinical and social factors may contribute to long term institutionalisation of the aged (Odejide, 1982;Akishal, 1985;Scott, 1988;Leonard, 1988).…”