[Suicide in the elderly at home and in retirement homes in France]

Suicide in the elderly attracts less attention that in the young. However it is more frequent among the former. The retirement home receives the populations most isolated from their families and those most vulnerable from a psychological and physical point of view. The aim of this research is to provide information concerning suicide in the elderly in France, to specify the means employed and to compare suicide rates at home and in retirement homes

The statistics utilized are those of population size (censuses) and medical causes of death. With these latter causes a relation cannot be made between place of residence and place where the death by suicide is registered. They therefore underestimate suicide rates which are only considered at the home or retirement home. Consequently different estimations have been made.

Suicide rates are higher in the retirement home than at home for both sexes. However, for men, the suicide rates in retirement homes are similar to those recorded for isolated men living at home. On the contrary, for women, the retirement home seems to constitute a specific risk in itself with suicide rates quite distinct from the other situations studied. In the retirement homes, conversely to men, it is the youngest women, (65 to 74 years) who have the highest rates. Hanging is the most prevalent mean of suicide both at home and in the retirement homes. Jumping from a high place is the second mean utilized in the retirement homes where fire arms and consumption of substances are less represented

There are few studies in France concerning suicide in the elderly. Due to the demographic evolution, the number of suicides among the aged may well increase considerably in the years to come.