The quality of life of older people (70-85 years) with particular emphasis on psychosocial functioning

Aim
Aging is a continuous and irreversible process. The desired quality of life, as the body grows older, becomes more and more difficult to maintain.

Objective
The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of older people, with particular emphasis on their psychosocial functioning.

Material and methods
110 residents of the Social Welfare Home aged 70-85 were asked about their quality of life. The Beck scale and the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale were used to assess depression, while the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. A self-constructed questionnaire with general questions was also used.

Results
The surveyed group of 110 people was on average 76 years old. According to the Beck scale and the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale, mild or severe depressive disorders were found in a significant number of respondents (80.9% and 86.4%). Based on the WHOQOL-BREF scale, the quality of life of the respondents and satisfaction with it were moderate, with average score of 70.91 points. Women and people who did not have family members rated their quality of life lower and had a greater tendency towards depression.

Conclusions
The quality of life of older people is at an average level. Most of them show symptoms of depression with mild or severe severity. Older women and people without family members are less satisfied with their lives and have greater tendencies towards depressive disorders. The length of stay in DPS does not affect the quality of life of older people and their tendency towards depressive disorders.