International Journal of Health Sciences and Research DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20211011 Vol.11; Issue: 10; October 2021 Website: www.ijhsr.org Original Research Article ISSN: 2249-9571 International Journal of Health Sciences and Research (www.ijhsr.org) 72 Vol.11; Issue: 10; October 2021 Correlation between the Cognitive Impairment and the Performance of Activities of Daily Living among Elderly People Residing in Selected Old-Age Homes of West Bengal Madhurima Kumar 1 , Shipra Modak 2 1 Priyamvada Birla Institute of Nursing, Kolkata 700156 2 Government College of Nursing, I.D & B.G Hospital Campus, Kolkata Corresponding Author: Shipra Modak ABSTRACT Age associated cognitive decline is an important human experience which differs in extent between individuals. Activities of daily living are linked to cognitive function. A descriptive study was conducted to identify correlation between the cognitive impairment (CI) and the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) among elderly people residing in selected old-age homes of West Bengal. The study aimed to determine the relationship between the CI and the performance of ADL among elderly people. Non experimental survey research approach was adopted to collect data from 150 subjects by simple random sampling technique with the help of Demographic Proforma, GPCOG Screening Test and Barthel Index. The study findings revealed that 43.33% of the respondents had cognitive impairment whereas 56.66% were cognitively intact. ADL assessment depicted that 43.33% were moderately dependent, 33.33% were independent, 14.66% were slightly dependent, followed by 8.66% of the respondents who were severely dependent. A strong positive correlation was found between CI and ADL (r = 0.87) and also between CI and age (r = 0.97) of the participants. Statistically significant association was found between cognitive impairment and gender (χ 2 = 5.99, <0.05), education (χ 2 = 8.81, <0.05), previous occupation (χ 2 = 12.80, <0.01), self financial support (χ 2 = 10.12, <0.01), family type (χ 2 = 15.77, <0.001), presence of chronic disease (χ 2 = 4.10, <0.05). Considering the findings some recommendations were offered for future research such as to conduct the study on large sample and different settings. Key Words: Cognitive impairment, Activities of daily living, Elderly people, Correlation, Performance INTRODUCTION “Old age is not a disease – it is strength and survivorship, triumph over all kinds of vicissitudes and disappointments, trial and illnesses” ~ Maggie Kuhn “How old is old?” The concept of old has been changed drastically over the few years and is still changing. Our pre- historic ancestors probably had a life span of 40 years, with the average individual living around 18years [1]. Life expectancy in India has increased from 49.7 years in 1970-75 to 59 years in 1990s (male; 58.3 years and female; 59.7 years) and currently to 68.6 years in 2012-16. In current times, life expectancy of male is 67.4 years and for the female it is 70.2 years [2]. Old age depends not only on the chronological age of people, but also on their physical and mental abilities, socio economic resources, educational background, and previous life experiences because age alone cannot be a determining factor in defining old age [3]. Today, old age and gerontology have gained