title: Health and satisfaction among the elderly with chronic conditions: demographic differentials.
abstract: This study examines the state of health (physical and mental health) and avowed satisfaction (toward hospital services and towards life-as-a-whole), among 172 elderly subjects (108 outpatients from a family medicine clinic and 64 community residents) with chronic conditions living in Kaohsiung city. Results indicated that (a) the elderly did not perceive any great impact of illness(es) upon their lives and both their physical and mental health were satisfactory; (b) the elderly were generally satisfied with both the hospital services and life as a whole; (c) there were meaningful group differentials in health and satisfaction: older, male, single and financially-dependent elderly had poorer physical and mental health; female, single and financially dependent elderly avowed lower life satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Chong-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical College, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction