Quality of life from the perspectives of older people

Bibliographic Data

ID11200976
AuthorsZahava Gabriel (University College London), Ann Bowling (0000-0002-4030-6579, University College London)
Year2004
Volume24
Issue5
Pages675-691
Publication date2004-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x03001582
OpenAlexW2107925131
LanguageEN
Citations received169
References cited10

This paper report results from a national survey of quality of life (QoL), based on 999 people aged 65 or more years living in private households in Britain. The study produced both qualitative and quantitative interview data. The 999 survey respondents were interviewed in their own homes with a semi-structured survey instrument, and 80 were followed-up in greater depth at one and two years after the baseline interview. The material from the in-depth interviews is presented here. The main QoL themes that emerged were: having good social relationships, help and support; living in a home and neighbourhood that is perceived to give pleasure, feels safe, is neighbourly and has access to local facilities and services including transport; engaging in hobbies and leisure activities (solo) as well as maintaining social activities and retaining a role in society; having a positive psychological outlook and acceptance of circumstances which cannot be changed; having good health and mobility; and having enough money to meet basic needs, to participate in society, to enjoy life and to retain one's independence and control over life. The results have implications for public policy, and supplement the growing body of knowledge on the composition and measurement of quality of life in older age

Activities of daily living · Independence (probability theory) · Neighbourhood (mathematics) · Pleasure · Qualitative research · Quality of life (healthcare) · Social science · Sociology · Aging and Gerontology Research · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology

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