Abstract
Introduction: With an increasing population ageing and by the changing context of the world, elderly has been pushed into a state of loneliness, helplessness, frustration and meaninglessness leading them to various psychosocial problems. The study was conducted to compare the psychosocial problems and determine its relationship with the selected demographic variables of the elderly living in institutional and home settings in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Methods: The co-relational comparative study was carried out in 2013 among 132 elderly aged 60 years and/above residing in old age homes and home settings in Kathmandu by using pre-tested structured interview schedule. Date were analysed by using SPSS software version 19.
Results: The psychosocial problems were greater in institutionalized elderly and there was significant difference between psychosocial problems of the elderly living in institutional and home settings. The psychosocial problems had dependency on type of family, interpersonal relations, and gender in institutionalized elderly and with educational status, marital status, monthly income, interpersonal relations, and gender in home living elderly.
Conclusions: The institutionalized elderly are facing more psychosocial problems. The study shows the need of encouragement towards joint family norms. Older adults should be trained for active ageing. Old people should be involved in the family activities and useful works instead of keeping them away.

Key words: Psychosocial problems institutionalized elderly, elderly.