PAIN AND LIVING ACTIVITIES IN ELDERLY AT A NURSING HOME: AN INVESTIGATION IN TERMS OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND SOMATIZATION

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine pain and life activities in the elderly in terms of depression, anxiety and somatization. Materials and Method: The study was carried out in cakader Danis Nursing Home in canakkale The study was carried out with 77 elderly persons. Data were collected by Introductory Information Form, Geriatric Depression Scale, Beck's Anxiety Scale, Somatization Scale, Numerical Pain Scale, Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living and Lawton and Brody's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Index. Results: Somatization level of the elderly having pain was higher than the ones without pain (z=-3.201, p<0.01). The elderly experiencing chronic pain had higher depression (z-2.042, p<0.05), anxiety (z=-1.995, p<0.05) and somatization (z=-3.508, p<0.01) levels than the ones experiencing acute pain. In terms of daily living activities, semi-dependent elderly persons had higher depression (z=-1.996, p <= 0.05), anxiety (z=-1.937, ps0.05) and somatization (z=-2.710, p<0.01) levels than the independent ones. Conclusion: Somatization, depression and anxiety levels of the semi-dependent elderly with chronic pain are higher.