title: Health Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Older People who are Members of Open Care Centers for the Elderly.
abstract: The consequences of demographic ageing, demographic and social-economic changes, changes in the structure of family, in the shrinkage of Welfare state, influenced the lifestyle of the older people and their social relations. The institution of Open Care Centers for the Elderly (KAPI) was created in the context of these conditions. This cross-sectional study examined the lifestyle of the older people who are member of KAPI and their association with all HRQoL dimensions. The results of this research showed that the main reason for the participants to become members of the KAPI was entertainment and/or companionship (98.4%). Additionally subjects who suffered from a chronic disease had significantly lower scores on all HRQoL dimensions, while participants who were members in the activity groups of KAPI had significantly higher scores. The elderly within the KAPI have many opportunities to meet with other persons of their age, and develop various activities and interests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ponirou
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diomidous
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalokairinou
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mantas
authors.affiliation: Konstantopoulio General Hospital of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Chariklia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsimahidou
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Chara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tzavara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012936:Social Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support