Assessment of quality of life in community dwelling Geriatrics

Aging of population is a significant product of demographic transition. India is in a phase of this demographic transition. The increasing number of older people with higher expectations of a “good health” within society and with their high demand for health and social care has lead to international interest in the enhancement & measurement of Quality of life in older people.

To assess quality of life in geriatrics under four domains and to find the most affected domain.

To assess the most affected component in each domain.

To compare the affection of various domains in young old, middle old and old old age group.

To assess limitations in different areas of life due to health problems.

Survey study

50 people, community dwelling above the age of 60 yrs were taken for the study.

Community dwelling people above the age of 60yrs.

People below 60yrs. Of age.

People staying in old age homes or other institutes.

People on psychiatric treatment or impaired cognitive status.

People unwilling to join the study.

Basic demographic data, pre-validated questionnaire tailored to Indian population was used to assess quality of life in community dwelling geriatrics. It composed of four domains namely Physical, Psychological, Social and Environmental domains. There were 26 items with simple option of yes/no to each item. Data was collected by direct method and represented through bar and pie diagram.

Our study shows that:

Physical domain (42.5%) was most affected and the Social domain (9.33%) was the least affected.

The component in the physical domain i.e. the need for elderly to take medical treatment to function in their daily life was most affected (76%).In psychological domain majority of people had feelings like depression, anxiety or mood swings (42%). The component of being dependent or feeling of being a burden on people is found to be the most affected (12%) in social domain. The feeling of not being safe in daily life was the component which was most affected (28%) in environmental domain.

The affection of various domains increased as age advances.

It was also found that because of the HEALTH PROBLEMS the most affected area of life was the ability of the elderly to go for vacations and outings independently.

Physical domain is the most affected domain among the elderly population.

The most affected component in physical domain is the need of some medical treatment to function in daily life, psychological domain is the feelings like depression, anxiety and mood swings, in social domain is being dependent or a feeling of being a burden on society and in environmental domain is feeling safe in daily life.

The various domains were most affected in old old age group and least affected in young old age group.

Health problems interfere most with the ability of going out for vacations and outings in elderly people.