Using WHOQOL-BREF to evaluate quality of life among Turkish elders in different residential environments.
OBJECTIVE
This study used the Brief Version of The World Health Organization's Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) to assess and compare the quality of life in older people who live at home and older people who live in public assisted-living facilities for the elderly.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Data were collected by a research nurse in each home and in the assisted living facility.


METHODS
PARTICIPANTS were 60 years old and older. The sample included 37 people who were living in a public assisted-living facility and 37 elderly people living in their own homes.


METHODS
The WHOQOL-BREF was used to measure participants' quality of life.


RESULTS
The groups were similar according to gender, literacy, existence of chronic diseases, and general perceived health. However, quality of life scores for social relationships and environment domains were lower in those living in an assisted living facility than those living in their own homes. The scores for elderly females staying in the assisted living facility were lower compared to the scores of males in the facility.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that social and environmental domains of life quality are low in elderly assisted living facilities. Social activities should be diversified for elderly people staying in assisted living facilities to improve social relationships. Physical and psychological health of females in assisted living facilities should be comprehensively supported by professionals. Alternatively, elderly people may be professionally supported to live in their own homes.
Bodur
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Department of Public Health, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. saidbodur@gmail.com
Dayanir Cingil
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey