Comparing the Social Health Status among the Older People Living at Home and Those Living in Old People's Home

Nowadays, the health challenges related to life length is increasing. This research aimed to compare the levels of social health among two groups of older people living at home and at old people’s homes.
The statistical population of this analytic-descriptive research includes all over-60-year-old people living at houses and old people’s homes in Tehran city, Iran, during the year 2014. The sample size was 400 (200 elderly living at home and 200 living at old people’s home). The sampling procedure was done based on cluster random method. The levels of social health of both groups were compared using Keyes social health questionnaire. Data analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and chi-square and t tests via SPSS software.
Findings: The mean of social health status was 60.60 and 62.83 among elderly living at old people’s home and home, respectively (P = 0.027 which showed the social health status was statistically different.
The results showed that there was a significant difference between the two studied groups of elderly people regarding the level of social health. Therefore, the authorities must pay more attention to this group and perform the required planning and preparations in order to increase the elderlie’s social health.