• J M Rawlins, D T Simeon, D D Ramdath, and D D Chadee.
• The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. rawlinsjm@yahoo.com
• W Indian Med J. 2008 Dec 1; 57 (6): 589-95.

ObjectivesTo determine the general health and social status of elderly persons surveyed in Trinidad and to explore issues of loneliness.MethodAn island-wide survey of persons aged 65 years and older was conducted in early 2002 in Trinidad Eight hundred and forty-five (845) elderly persons were chosen using systematic random sampling. The main survey instrument for data collection was a questionnaire that included structured as well as open-ended questions. The subjects were chosen in a house-to-house survey conducted in all eight counties in Trinidad. Elderly people who were unable to comprehend the questions were excluded from the survey.ResultsThose selected ranged in age from 65-102 years and represented all the ethnic groups in Trinidad. These elderly persons lived in a wide range of housing situations. The majority lived in the homes of family members (57%) and 16% lived on their own. A large proportion (80%) had at least one chronic medical problem, although 44% reported their health as "fairly good" or "good". More than a half of the males (53%) and 67% of the females were taking at least one prescribed medicine. The main sources of income were old age pension (85%) and National Insurance (15%). Thirty-three per cent reported feelings of loneliness. This figure includes 28% of those who did not live alone.ConclusionThe data revealed that across all ethnic groups more than one-third of the sample reported themselves to be in fair to good health. Many of these elders were lonely because their relatives were quite occupied with their own affairs.

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