The quality of life of aged people living in homes for the aged

Abstract

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 93 aged people, divided among four institutions in the municipality of Lamego (Portugal). The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of life of the sample and the factors affecting it, and identify the degree of dependence in basic daily living activities. The data was collected using the following: i) a bio-relational questionnaire, ii) a quality of life evaluation scale, and iii) the Katz Index. In terms of the quality of life of the institutionalized aged people, 51.6% include themselves in the group with quality of life, and it was observed there was a positive correlation between the Katz index and the quality of life index in the institutionalized aged people. There were no differences in the quality of life index regarding gender, marital status, degree of education, and the presence of pain in the institutionalized aged people.