Quality of life of the elderly residents of nursing homes and patients of the Psychogeriatric Day Ward

Abstract

IntroductionAccording to the offi cial forecasts the population of people aged 65 and over in the European Union will increase from 87.5 million in 2010 to 152.6 million in 2060. There are also predictions of the number of persons aged 80 and above growing from 23.7 million in 2010 to 62.4 million in 2060 [1]. Designing and implementing measures aimed at improving the quality of such extended life is one of the challenges facing medicine today.Quality of life (QoL) is a multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary term. Various sciences make attempts to conceptualise this term -above all medicine and psychology, but also sociology, pedagogy and economics. Hence the multitude and variety of defi nitions highlighting different aspects of human functioning and their importance in the process of formulating a subjective assessment of one's own life. Assessment of the QoL of the elderly is very diffi cult because the elderly are not a homogenous social group [2], and old ABSTRACT Introduction. Due to the prolonged average life span and constantly increasing number of the elderly, research of this population's quality of life (QoL) is being conducted to assess the spheres requiring improvement. Aim. To assess and compare the life quality in different domains between residents of nursing homes (NH) and patients of the Psychogeriatric Day Ward (PDW). Material and Methods. The study encompassed 68 PDW patients and 62 NH residents. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and a structured interview concerning diseases, different forms of support and activities preferred were used. Results. Women predominated among the subjects (83%). The elderly aged 75-90 constituted the majority (64.62%). The average assessment of QoL in the whole group amounted to 3.6 points. No signifi cant differences in the assessment of QoL satisfaction and one's own health satisfaction were observed between PDW patients and NH residents. The participants of both groups assessed the highest QoL in the environment domain and the lowest in the social relationships domain. A relationship between higher QoL in the physical health domain and participation in social forms of spending free time was observed. Relationships between QoL in particular domains and age, marital status and length of stay in NH were found. Conclusions. Elderly people's QoL, similarly to their satisfaction with health, were on an average level regardless of the institutional care. The QoL remains in a signifi cant relationship with health. The changing needs of the elderly should be the basis for creating an individual plan of professional support.

Determinants of Quality of Life and the Need for Support for the Elderly with Good Physical and Mental Functioning

“…In studies assessing quality of life using the WHOQOL questionnaire, elderly patients would usually score more than 60 points which is above a good score [ 3 – 6 , 18 , 27 ]. In our studies, the score varied from 51 to 60 points.…”

“…Greater differences were found in the assessment of the domain deemed to be the most satisfactory. Researchers usually indicate the domain of Social relationships [ 2 , 10 , 24 ] or the Environment domain [ 5 , 18 , 27 ]. Studies conducted in the United States have shown that poorer ability in activities of daily living, memory disorders and depression, and greater number of comorbidities were associated with a lower quality of life.…”

“…One such tool is the EASY-Care standard 2010 questionnaire [ 11 , 12 , 14 – 17 ]. Receiving adequate assistance leads to satisfaction with one’s daily life and, thus, improves one’s subjective assessment of quality of life [ 7 , 12 , 18 – 23 ]. Quality of life of the elderly – similarly to that of younger people – as defined by the WHO does not depend only on biological health but also on mental, social, cultural, and spiritual functioning [ 18 , 24 , 25 ].…”

“…It can also help prevent depression and cognitive disorders since it provides intellectual and emotional stimulation and consequently improves their assessment of quality of life [ 21 , 26 ]. Elderly people usually assess their quality of life as good or better [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 18 , 27 ]. Factors affecting quality of life specifically include physical functioning and cognitive ability, depression and other comorbidities, loneliness and social functioning [ 1 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 18 , 19 , 22 , 24 , 27 – 31 ].…”

Factores asociados a la percepción de discriminación: edadismo y calidad de vida de la población geriátrica desde un enfoque bioético

“…La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) define la calidad de vida como "la percepción que tiene un individuo de su posición en la vida, en el contexto de la cultura y los sistemas de valores en los que vive y en relación con sus metas, expectativas, estándares e inquietudes" (2) . En los AM la CV depende de la salud biológica, y del buen funcionamiento mental, social, cultural, y espiritual (3) .…”