Pattern of Self-Perceived Health, Immobility and Hospitalization among Elderly in India

Ranjan Kumar Prusty, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Abhishek Kumar, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Mousumi Gogoi, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

In this study, we examined the pattern of perceived health status, immobility, and hospitalization among elderly of India using 60th round of National Sample Survey data collected during 2004. Bivariate and multivariate analysis is used to understand the differentials and determinants of outcome variable among elderly of India. Result shows that age group, economic dependency, education, sex, and living arrangement play an important role in health status of elderly. The most common diseases elderly suffers from are eye ailments, cardiovascular diseases and joint pain as reported. Logistic regression result shows that age, sex, dependency and living arrangement as the most important factor affecting mobility and hospitalization of elderly. Indian elderly has a poor health status either in terms of self-assessed or mobility or hospitalization. Therefore, special attention to elderly particularly focusing on female, living alone, poor, 70+ aged and elderly of northern and eastern regions is required.