Body Mass Index
Elderly differs with living environment, food intake and dietary patterns. When considering the BMI standards of world health organisation, 68 per cent elderly had a normal BMI, which was higher among male elderly (74 per cent). About 37 per cent female elderly were suffering from overweight or obese compared to 14 per cent male elderly. Thus female elderly were vulnerable with overweight or obese while male elderly were at risk with underweight.
Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SUBI)
Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SUBI) is used to measure the mental health status. It evaluates elderly life in terms of overall life satisfaction as well as an experience of pleasant and unpleasant emotions. It was developed by Nagpal and Sell
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Among the elderly, oldest-old is the most vulnerable group with the low level of well-being compared to other age groups.
General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)
The same method used to calculate Subjective wellbeing index is followed to assess the general health condition of the elderly. The reliability coefficient, Cronbach's Alpha is 0.96 for 12 items of GHQs. The mean of the index was 22 with a standard deviation of 7.8. The good health conditions lead to higher values of the index.
Property or House
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Those who communicate with the relatives or friends majority are males compared to females.
In 2004 computer and related mass communications were not familiar with common people. At that time about 86 per cent elderly had heard about the computer, but only 16 per cent had known to use it. Only 4.4 per cent had a computer at home. Also, 23 per cent elderly heard of internet or email facilities but only 2 per cent had known how to use the facility.
When we analyse the social interaction of elderly people, we can find that only 18 per cent were a member of any social, political or religious group or organisation. Among this, male elderly accounted 23.5 per cent and respective female elderly accounted 12.6 per cent. About 10 per cent male elderly were a member of religious organisation and 5 per cent were in political parties. In the case of female elderly about 5.1 per cent were a member of religious organisation and 3.4 per cent were in kudumbasree unit (which is exclusively for