Author(s): Dr. Anindita Dey

Abstract:
Depression is the most common problem of the elderly. In the present scenario of the migration of the youth, retirement, loneliness and other causative factors lead to depression among elderly residents of Kolkata. Keeping this backdrop in mind the study emphasized on the pre – retirement and the post - retirement conditions of the elderly mainly living in Kolkata. The population of the study comprised of one hundred elderly belonging to two age groups (55 – 65 years and 65 – 75 years). The Beck Depression Inventory was used to find out their level of depression. Correlation coefficients were calculated to find out the effect of age and retirement condition on the two age groups. The t – test was also performed to find out the difference between the samples of the study. The present study will therefore help us to conclude whether the elderly suffer from depression, the causative factor being retirement and the methods that can be undertaken to eradicate such problems from the lives of the senior citizens.