Abstract:
The demographic changes affect the socio-economic development of a country. This
changes of age distribution of population, in the past few decades show increase in the
proportion of elderly. This hospital based descriptive study was done, at the out patient
department, Base hospital Nawalapitiya, to determine the health problems and sociodemographic characteristics of elders. The study declared the usual complaints of some
common diseases and the socio-economic, demographic and behavioral factors 0 elderly
patients. The existing family support for elders at the residence, accompanier fo treatment
and the chronic diseases of elderly patients were described. The study was conducted among
elderly patients in the 60-89 year age group. The time preferred for treatments at O.P.D. by
most elderly patients were between 8.00- 9.49 am Common presenting complaints were
body ache and pain, fever, difficulty in breath in! and abdominal pain. They were diagnosed
as abnormal clinical findings,, arthropathies, viral fever and respiratory tract diseases. The
significant chronic diseases were hypertension, chronic respiratory tract diseases and
diabetes mellitus. The result suggest that it is important to screen elders for chronic diseases.
The promotion of elderly care a home is necessary for elders who 'stay alone'. The resources
available with elders, for example, skills, knowledge, and properties can be used to uplift
healthy life of them Non-smoker and non-alcoholic are healthy than smoker and alcoholics.
