Quality of life, quality of care and resident satisfaction in care homes

Abstract

Abstract Recent years have seen a growing interest in the study and measurement of both quality of life (QOL) and quality of care (QOC), influenced at least in part by the increased importance being given to 'accountability' relating to health and social care. In the widest sense, QOL is all-encompassing, including material, physical, social, emotional and spiritual dimensions, while QOC can be considered to be a somewhat more limited concept. 'Satisfaction' is often used as a primary indicator of QOL and/or QOC, although the way in which it is conceptualised and measured varies somewhat according to factors such as context and study population. In this paper a number of issues relating to the assessment of QOL and QOC in care homes for older people are discussed, with a particular focus on resident satisfaction as a key indicator. Results of an Australian study of resident satisfaction in care homes and its relevance to the UK context are then discussed.