Date Presented 03/26/20
Due to an anticipated increase in the older adult population, a survey research design was used to compare quality of life of older adults who live at home and are active in the community versus those who live in a long-term care facility. Data indicates that older adults who age in place and are active in the community report a higher quality of life. Additionally, socioeconomic status is a predictor of quality of life. The results of this study provide insight in gearing direction to care for older adults.
Primary Author and Speaker: Dahlia Castillo
Additional Authors and Speakers: Liana Trevino, Raul Suarez, Genesis Arreola-Castaneda
Contributing Authors: Cecilia Fierro, Mei-Ling Lin
PURPOSE: This study aims to compare the quality of life of older adults who live at home and are active in the community versus older adults who live in a Long-Term Care Facility. Investigation is sought due to an anticipated increase in the older adult population in the next eleven years. With new research, the information will provide occupational therapy practitioners and other health-care professionals with valuable insight on how to better care for the upcoming older adult population.
DESIGN: This study adopts a survey research design, aiming to compare results between the two groups of older adults. The study used a convenience and purposeful sampling method. In total, the study yielded 55 participants, 35 who live at home and participate in the community and 18 who live in long-term care.
METHODS: An adapted version of the WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF) was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the participants’ ratings of quality of life. An independent t-test and Spearman’s correlation were conducted to run the results.
RESULTS: There was a significant difference in quality of life scores for individuals living at home and individuals living in long-term care facilities; F(53)=5.632, p=0.021. Additionally, the Spearman’s correlation analysis determined a positive linear relationship between quality of life and level of education (rs=.523, p=.0), as well as quality of life and annual income (rs=.646 p=.0). Finally, data indicated that socioeconomic status can be used to determine the total quality of life using the following equation; QOL(Total)=22.137 +2.317(annual income)+1.906(education level).
CONCLUSION: With an inevitable increase in the older population of our nation, promoting aging in place safely should be a priority for Occupational Therapist practitioners. This study proved that quality of life is higher among older adults who live at home and are active in the community versus those older adults who live in long-term care facilities. Additionally, the results showed that socioeconomic status has a correlation to quality of life, those who reported a higher SES also reported a higher quality of life. Thus, one can say that SES can be used to determine the quality of life of an individual.This study brings light to the impact aging in place has on an individual’s overall quality of life, and highlights that engagement in the community promotes aging at home for the older adult population.
References
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