The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors affecting home care patients 65 years of age and older with symptoms of depression. The author conducted this study for 80 depressed and non-depressed who were taking home care. Data was colleted from November 1996 to October 1997. The major findings of this study were as follows. Significant mean group differences were found on age and income in old home care patients with symptoms of depression, compared with non -depressed. Old home care patients who have less than 300,000won of income, smoking, exercise, unsatisfactory of home care, living in saparateness, rent, living alone, unbalanced diet, irregular diet were statistically significant risk factors by logistic regression. Old home care patients who do not exercise, less than 300,000won of income, unsatisfactory of home care, smoking, living alone were the risk factors by final logistic regression model predicting depression.

• Elderly
• Depression
• Home care
• Risk factor