Investigation of the Relationship between Social Health and Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Residents of Kermanshah Nursing Home in 2019

Abstract

Background and Aims: The elderly, as an important part of human society, have many psychological needs. Social and cognitive health is two important factors in determining the health status of the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social health and cognitive health in the elderly living in Kermanshah nursing home. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study. Participants were 100 elderly people living in Kermanshah nursing home (50 females and 50 males) with a mean age of 73±8. Sampling was done by census method. The Keyes Social Health Questionnaire and MMSE Cognitive Status Questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 and descriptive statistics (frequency, mean) and Spearman correlation and linear regression tests. Results: There was a direct and significant relationship between social health and cognitive health. (P<0.001). Also, there was a reverse (p = 0.026) and direct (p = 0.005) relationship between social health and age and educational level. There was a reverse and significant relationship between the cognitive health and length of stay in the nursing home (p = 0.007). Results of linear regression showed that the effect of social health on predicting cognitive health level was significant (p <0.001). Conclusion: Social health is an important factor in predicting cognitive impairment in elderly. Low social health of the elderly in nursing home increases the risk of cognitive impairment. Therefore, it is necessary for the managers of the Elderly Centers to strengthen the elderly social relations through encouraging policies of visiting and visiting family and friends in order to enhance cognitive health.