Background: Old age is a period of transition when one has to deal not only with the
physical aging, but also with the challenges affecting the mental and social well-being of the
elderly. Aim: to assess the effect of social environment of elderly care homes on their
psychosocial health in Helwan City. Research design: A descriptive correlational design.
Setting: The study was carried out in four governmental elderly care homes in Helwan City.
Subjects: One hundred elderly residents. Tool: A structured interview questionnaire
consisted of five parts (Demographic characteristics of the elderly and data about the
geriatric homes, history of chronic diseases and medication, elderly's satisfaction with
geriatric home, elderly social relations in geriatric home, and assessment of psychosocial
health of the elderly). Results: Half of the elderly were having fair relationship with their
colleagues and family members and two thirds of them were having good relationship with
their caregivers. About three quarters of the elderly had accepted psychological and social
health. Highly statistically significant positive correlations were found between the scores of
elderly psychological health, social health and their social relations scores. Conclusion: The
present study revealed that there were highly statically significant positive correlations
between the social environment of elderly care homes and their psychosocial health.
Recommendations: Continuous assessment of social relations and psychosocial health of
elderly residing in care homes. Developing and conducting programs to enhance social
relations of elderly residents with specific focus on their psychosocial health