Quality of Life in the Elderly: Comparisons Between Nursing Home and Community Residents
Quality of life of older persons is important as a consideration in medical decisions and as a clinical outcome measure. To compare quality of life between elderly nursing home and community residents, we interviewed 47 pairs of age- and sex-matched, nondemented nursing home and community persons. Global quality of life ratings were similar among nursing home and community residents, with ratings suggesting a self-perceived acceptable quality of life. Housing (the nursing home), finances, health, and interpersonal relationships were associated with global quality of life for nursing home residents; for community participants, health, disability, finances, anxiety, and interpersonal relationships were associated with quality of life. Results suggest that health care providers cannot assume that their older nursing home residents perceive their quality of life to be worse than other elderly persons and that some people report that nursing homes improve their quality of life.