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The Well, the Mentally Ill, the Old and the Old Old: a Community Survey of Elderly Persons in London

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

J. R. M. Copeland ,
M. J. Kelleher ,
A. M. R. Smith  and
P. Devlin
P. Devlin
Affiliation:
US-UK Cross-national (Diagnostic) Project, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5, and University of Liverpool, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool Hospital, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool L6g 3BX.
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Abstract

A random sample of 396 elderly people living at home in the Greater London community was interviewed by psychiatrists using standardised assessments. The sample was divided into the old (aged 65–74) and the old/old (aged 75 and over). The proportions with mental illness were identified and excluded from the sample in order to allow comparison of mentally normal elderly persons between these age groups. Surprisingly few differences emerge. No difference in educational attainment appeared, but there was a small diminution (P < 0.01) in intellectual function to clinical testing, in the old/old. Leisure interests were maintained and high level life satisfaction, health and happiness were claimed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 1986 , pp. 417 - 433
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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References

NOTES

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