Navigating Daily Life- Prevalence of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) among the Elderly in Urban Bengaluru - A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The global elderly population is growing rapidly, and India is home to the world's second-largest elderly population. Understanding the activities of daily living (ADL) among the elderly is essential for providing effective healthcare and support. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dependency with respect to ADL and its association with socio-demographic and comorbidities variables among elderly individuals residing in three wards of urban Bengaluru. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2023. A total of 132 elderly were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed using EpiData 3.1 software, with the chi-square test and binary logistic regression used to study associations. Results: The study found that 43% of the elderly population experienced activity limitations in ADL where 75 (57%) showed full function, 47 (36%) showed moderate impairment, and 10 (7%) showed severe functional impairment. Activity limitations were more prevalent among females, those over 80 years of age, illiterate individuals, homemakers, and those with hypertension and economic dependency. The adjusted odds ratio analysis showed a significant association between activity limitations and those aged above 80. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for targeted healthcare interventions, regular health check-ups, and literacy programs for elderly population, particularly elderly feamles and those over 80 years of age. Policies should focus on addressing the determinants of activity limitations to improve the functional status and overall quality of life for the elderly.