INTRODUCTION:

Globally, the aging population is increasing rapidly, resulting in significant physical, social, and economic challenges. According to the World Health Organisation, the global proportion of people aged 60 years and above will nearly double by 2050¹. In India, the elderly population is projected to exceed 300 million by 2050². The elderly face multiple health challenges such as chronic diseases, frailty, depression, and lack of social support. Despite the introduction of the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), awareness among community residents regarding elderly care remains limited³. The present study assesses community awareness regarding elderly care and geriatric health issues among residents of Ward 22, Panachikkadu Panchayath, Kerala.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A Descriptive Study to Assess the Awareness Regarding Elderly Care and Geriatric Health Issues Among Residents of Ward – 22, in Panachikkadu Panchayath.

OBJECTIVES:

· To assess the level of awareness regarding elderly care among residents of ward – 22, in Panachikkadu panchayath

· To assess the level of awareness regarding geriatric health issues among residents of ward – 22, in Panachikkadu panchayath

· To determine the association between selected socio – demographic variables and level of awareness regarding elderly care

· To determine the association between selected socio – demographic variables and level of awareness regarding geriatric health issues

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

1 Descriptive Study: In this research, a descriptive study refers to a non-experimental research design used to systematically collect, organize, and analyze data to accurately describe the current level of awareness among residents of Ward–22 regarding elderly care and geriatric health issues, without manipulating any variables.

2 Elderly Care: In this study, elderly care refers to the knowledge and practices of residents related to supporting the physical, emotional, and social needs of individuals aged 60 years and above, including aspects such as daily care, safety, respect, and support within the family and community settings.

3 Geriatric Health Issues: Geriatric health issues refer to the common physical and mental health problems experienced by elderly individuals, such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, vision and hearing impairments, memory loss, and depression, as understood by the residents of Ward–22.

4 Awareness: In this study, awareness denotes the level of knowledge and understanding the residents have about elderly care and geriatric health problems. It is measured using a structured questionnaire, and categorized into low, moderate, or high levels based on the scores obtained.

5 Residents: Residents refer to the individuals aged 20 years and above who are permanently living in Ward–22 of the adopted village community under Panachikkadu Panchayath, and who participate in the study.

6 Panachikkadu Panchayath: Panachikkadu Panchayath refers to a local self-governing administrative unit in Kerala, India, where the study is being conducted, specifically focusing on Ward–22.

HYPOTHESIS:

H₀₁: There is no significant association between the level of awareness regarding elderly care and the selected socio-demographic variables among the residents of Ward–22, in Panachikkadu Panchayath.

H₀₂: There is no significant association between the level of awareness regarding geriatric health issues and the selected socio-demographic variables among the residents of Ward–22, in Panachikkadu Panchayath.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Research Approach: A Quantitative approach was used.

Research Design: A descriptive research design was adopted.

Research variable:

Dependent Variable: Level of awareness about geriatric care and geriatric health issues.

Extraneous variable: Personal biases or attitude, Environmental factors, Time constraints.

Socio- Demographic Variables: It includes age, gender, marital status, educational qualification, occupation, monthly income, religion, type of family.

Setting:

Ward 22, Panachikkadu Panchayath, Kottayam District, Kerala

Population and Sample:

The study population comprised residents aged 20 years and above. A sample of 100 participants was selected using non-probability convenience sampling.

Criteria for Sample Selection:

Inclusion Criteria:

a. Residents who are above the age of 20 years.

b. Residents who are willing to participate in the study.

c. Both male and female residents.

Exclusion Criteria:

a. Residents below the age of 20 years

b. Residents who are absent during the time of data collection period

c. Residents who are not willing to participate in the study

Description of the tool:

Tool 1:

Structured socio - demographic questionnaire:

The data collection tool consists of demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, educational qualification, occupation, monthly income, religion, type of family.

Tool 2:

Structured Knowledge Questionnaire:

Section A: Structured knowledge Questionnaire on elderly care:

It consisted of a structured knowledge questionnaire regarding elderly care. There was one correct answer and 2 distractors. The section carries 20 multiple choice questions and for each correct answer a score of 1 was awarded.

Score key:

· 0 – 6: Poor Awareness

· – 13: Average Awareness

· 14 – 20: Good Awareness

Section B: Structured knowledge questionnaire on geriatric health issues:

It consists of a structured knowledge questionnaire regarding geriatric health issues. There was one correct answer and 2 distractors. The section carries 10 multiple choice questions and for each correct answer a score of 1 was awarded.

Score key:

a) 0 – 4: Poor Awareness

b) 5 – 7: Average Awareness

c) 8 – 10: Good Awareness

Data Collection:

Data were gathered from October 27–30, 2025, after obtaining institutional ethical approval and informed consent from participants.

Analysis:

Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to describe the data. Chi-square test was applied to determine associations between awareness and selected socio-demographic variables. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel.

Section -1: Socio - Demographic Characteristics:

Table 1: Distribution of Samples based on Socio - demographic variables (n=100)

Socio-personal Variable	Frequency	Percentage
1. Age
a. 20-39 years	12	12%
b. 40-59 years	39	39%
c. 60 years and above	49	49%
2. Gender
a. Male	45	45%
b. Female	55	55%
3. Marital Status
a. Married	88	88%
b. Unmarried	3	3%
c.Widowed	9	9%
4.Educational Status
a. No formal education	27	27%
b. Secondary education	55	55%
c. Graduate and above	18	18%
5.Occupation
a. Unemployed	56	56%
b. Private	39	39%
c. Government employed	5	5%
6. Income Level
a. Less than 10,000	63	63%
b. 10,000-30,000	28	28%
c. Above 30,000	9	9%
7. Religion
a. Hindu	64	64%
b. Christian	36	36%
8. Type of Family
a. Joint family	73	73%
b. Nuclear family	27	27%

Table 1 shows that among a total of 100 samples 49% were aged from 60 years and above, 39% were from 40 – 59 years of age and 12% were aged from 20 – 39 years of age. Among the participants 55% were females and 45% were males. Regarding marital status, 88% were married and 3% were unmarried women and 9%widowed. Regarding educational status, 55% were having secondary education, 27% were having no formal education and 18% graduated and above. Regarding occupation, 56% were unemployed, 39% were self employed and 5% were government employed. Regarding monthly income, 63% were less than 10,000, 28% were 10,000 - 30,000 and above 30,000 were 9%. Regarding religion, 64% were Hindus and 36% were Christian. Regarding family type 73% were from nuclear families and 27% were from joint families.

Section - 2: Level of Awareness on Elderly Care:

Table 2: Frequency distribution and percentage of the level of awareness regarding elderly care among residents of ward – 22

(n=100)

Awareness level	Frequency	Percentage
Poor	02	02%
Average	35	35%
Good	63	63%

Table 2 indicates that about 63% of residents had good awareness on geriatric care, 35% had average and 2% had poor awareness with 63% had good awareness.

Table 3: Mean and standard deviation of level of awareness regarding elderly care among residents of ward – 22 (n=100)

Awareness score range	Mean score	Standard deviation
0-20	14.16	2.97

Table 3 indicates that the mean level of awareness regarding elderly care among residents of ward 22 in Panachikkad Panchayat was 14.16 with a standard deviation of 2.97.

Section 3: Level of Awareness on Geriatric Health Issues:

Table 4: Frequency distribution and percentage of the level of awareness regarding geriatric health issues among residents of ward – 22 (n=100)

Awareness level	Frequency	Percentage
Poor	10	10%
Average	62	62%
Good	28	28%

Table 4 indicates that about 28% of residents had good awareness on geriatric health issues, 62% had average and 10% had poor awareness.

Table - 5: Mean and standard deviation of level of awareness regarding geriatric health issues among residents of ward – 22

(n=100)

Awareness score range	Mean score	Standard deviation
0-10	6.56	1.38

Table 5 indicates that the mean level of awareness regarding geriatric health issues among residents of ward – 22, in Panachikkadu panchayat was 6.56 with a standard deviation of 1.38.

Section - 4: Associations with Awareness of elderly care and selected Socio - demographic variables:

Chi - square test was used to obtain association between awareness on elderly care and selected Socio - demographic variables like age, gender and family type.

Table 6: Chi - square value showing the association of level of awareness on elderly care with selected Socio - demographic variables (n=100)

Level of Practice
Variables	Poor	Average	Good	df	χ²
Variables	f	f	f
Age
20-39 years	0	2	10	4	9.55*
40-59 years	0	20	19
60 years and above	2	13	34
Gender
Male	0	10	35	2	8.30*
Female	2	25	28
Type of Family
Nuclear family	2	28	43	2	2.33
Joint family	0	7	20

*Significant at 0.05 level

From table 6, it was found that there is a statistical significant association between level of awareness on elderly care with socio demographic variables like age and gender. The study revealed that there is no association between level of awareness elderly care with family type.

Section 4: Associations with Awareness of geriatric health issues and selected Socio - demographic variables

Chi - square test was used to obtain association between awareness on geriatric health issues and selected Socio - demographic variables like age, gender and family type.

Table 7: Chi - square value showing the association of level of awareness on geriatric health issues with selected Socio - demographic variables (n=100)

Level of Practice
Variables	Poor	Average	Good	df	χ²
Variables	f	f	f
Age
20-39 years	0	5	7	4	12.03*
40-59 years	2	30	7
60 years and above	8	27	14
Gender
Male	4	29	12	2	0.23
Female	6	33	16
Type of Family
Nuclear family	3	50	20	2	11.26*
Joint family	7	12	8

*Significant at 0.05 level

It was found that there is a statistical significant association between the level of awareness on geriatric health issues with socio demographic variables like age and family type. The study revealed that there is no association between the level of awareness on geriatric health issues with gender.

DISCUSSION:

In this community survey of Ward–22, Panachikkadu Panchayat (n = 100), 49% of participants were aged ≥60 years and 55% were female. The level of awareness on elderly care was predominantly good (63%), with a mean awareness score of 14.16 (SD 2.97). In contrast, awareness of geriatric health issues was lower: only 28% demonstrated good awareness and the mean score was 6.56 (SD 1.38). Statistical testing showed that awareness of elderly care was significantly associated with age and gender, while awareness of geriatric health issues was significantly associated with age and family type; no association was found between elderly-care awareness and family type, nor between geriatric-health awareness and gender. When compared with recent Indian studies, several consistent patterns emerge. A community-based interventional study from Telangana reported moderate baseline awareness among older villagers that improved substantially after an educational intervention; that study also found higher awareness among males and among those with greater educational attainment and income, reinforcing the demographic effects on awareness observed here.⁴ A national analysis using LASI data reported greater supportive and palliative care needs among rural residents, women and those with lower education, which complements our finding that age and sociodemographic structure shape awareness and needs.⁵ A rural Haridwar study found roughly two-thirds of older adults had only average knowledge of geriatric programmes, a distribution similar to our lower levels of geriatric-health awareness despite higher elderly-care awareness overall.⁶

Regionally, a Kerala study of 400 seniors documented limited utilisation of geriatric services and strong links between awareness/utilisation and education, economic status and family composition mirroring our finding that family type associated with geriatric-health awareness.⁷A qualitative study from Bihar highlighted barriers such as low literacy, inadequate income and poor social support as important constraints on both awareness and utilisation of social security measures for older adults, providing contextual explanation for why, despite a reasonable overall awareness of elderly-care concepts in our sample, practical knowledge about geriatric health issues and service use remains limited.⁸

Taken together, these comparisons suggest a recurring pattern across different Indian settings: demographic factors (age, gender, education, income) and family context substantially influence both awareness and effective utilisation of services for older adults. Our results particularly emphasize a gap between general elderly-care awareness (relatively high in this sample) and substantive knowledge of geriatric health issues (relatively low), implying that tailored educational interventions especially those that address family context and practical barriers may be necessary to convert general awareness into actionable knowledge and service uptake.

NURSING IMPLICATIONS:

The findings highlight the role of community health nurses in assessing, educating, and promoting geriatric health awareness. Nurses can organize community awareness programs, conduct home visits, and collaborate with local bodies to enhance family participation in elderly care.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:

· The study was limited to a single ward (Ward 22 of Panachikkadu Panchayath) with a small sample of 100 participants; therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to the entire community.

· Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, which might have introduced response bias or social desirability bias in self-reported answers.

· The use of non-probability convenience sampling could have limited the representativeness of the population.

· Awareness was measured only at one point in time; longitudinal data could better reflect actual awreness

· The study assessed knowledge and awareness but did not evaluate actual practices or health outcomes related to elderly care.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

· Future research may include samples from multiple wards or different panchayaths across Kerala to enhance representativeness and generalizability of the findings.

· Employing probability sampling techniques with larger sample sizes would allow more accurate statistical comparisons.

· Experimental or quasi-experimental studies can be undertaken to evaluate the impact of community-based awareness or educational interventions on knowledge, attitudes, and caregiving practices over time.

· Future studies could incorporate focus-group discussions or in-depth interviews to explore perceptions, barriers, and facilitators related to elderly care and health-service utilization

· Comparative analyses between rural and urban settings, or between different socioeconomic or educational groups, could help identify contextual factors influencing awareness and care practices.

CONCLUSION:

The study concluded that residents of Ward 22 possessed a satisfactory level of awareness regarding elderly care and geriatric health issues. However, gaps remain in comprehensive knowledge and preventive practices. Strengthening community-based nursing interventions and awareness programs can improve geriatric health outcomes and promote healthy ageing at the community level.

REFERENCES:

1. World Health Organization. World Report on Ageing and Health. Geneva: WHO; 2022.

2. United Nations Population Fund. India Ageing Report 2023. New Delhi: UNFPA; 2023.

3. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) Annual Report 2021.

4. Bogam RR, Chavan VM, Rani CU. Awareness and utilization of social welfare schemes among elderly villagers of Mahabubnagar rural region in Telangana State of India – An interventional study approach. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2023; 12(9):2058–63.

5. Immanuel T, Salins N, Thomas BM, Sundararaj JJ, Gursahani R, et al. Supportive and palliative care needs among older adults in India: an estimation using a nationally representative survey. BMC Palliat Care. 2024; 23: 274-275.

6. Pandey R, Chauhan SS, Singh A, et al. Assessment of awareness regarding geriatric welfare schemes among elderly in rural Haridwar: a descriptive study. Indian J Community Health. 2022; 34(3): 410–415.

7. 7.Nair PP, Jacob M. Awareness and utilization of geriatric welfare services among senior citizens in Ettumanoor block, Kottayam district. Community Nursing Journal. 2023; 5(1): 12–18.

8. Smriti S, Suman S, Puja, Singh SP. Exploring awareness and utilization of social security measures among elderly populations in Bihar. Int J Pharm Clin Res. 2024; 16(12): 2660–2667.

Received on 03.12.2025 Revised on 05.01.2026

Accepted on 30.01.2026 Published on 26.02.2026

Available online from March 03, 2026

A and V Pub J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2026;5(1):35-39.

DOI: 10.52711/jnmr.2026.08