Cognitive Functioning: Determinant of Quality of Life of Urban Elderly

Phenomenal rise in elderly population is bound to add to already existing enormous mental health demands. Age-related changes in sensation and perception, cognitive functions like memory, orientation, calculation, and concentration etc. are significant in themselves. The ability to perform functions for self care, planning and execution are critical indicators of an individual¿s ability to live independently. Decline in cognitive functions hamper their activities of daily living thus, compromise their quality of life. The book is based on PhD thesis of Author submitted to King George Medical University UP, Lucknow India. Relationships between cognitive functioning and quality of life of Indian urban elderly have been thoroughly studied and are being presented in this book. Age, gender, education, family, occupational and socioeconomic status wise specific cognitive functions and different domains of quality of life of older adults are discussed. Quality of Life of cognitively impaired elderlies was found significantly poor as compared to normal group. These early detection, are important since it provides a window of opportunity for therapeutic interventions, policy making.