WHOQOL – OLD and WHOQOL – BREF concepts as tools for assessment of quality of life of older people in old people’s homes

Abstract

The article offers a survey of partial results of research into quality of life of older people in old people’s homes. Old people’s homes constitute only one of the elements of care for older people and they are intended particularly for persons whose self-sufficiency is reduced due to age or health handicap, chronic mental disease or some type of dementia and whose situation requires the regular help of another person. At present, great stress is put on the quality of the services provided, but that quality is closely related to the quality of life of the older people. The goal of the research was to ascertain the level of quality of life of older people living in old people’s homes and to assess the quality of life in different life domains. The main research question said: which factors influence significantly the quality of life of older people in old people’s homes? The basic set consisted of inhabitants of South Bohemian Region of 60 years and more. 2 selective sets were made from that basic set. The first set was made, through intentional selection, of residents of old people’s homes in South Bohemian Region where the criteria of inclusion were: age above 60, willingness to cooperate and cognitive functions preserved at least to a degree that they are able to answer, by themselves or with assistance, credibly the questionnaire items. This set is identified with the abbreviation “DpS” (= domovy pro seniory = old people’s homes) for simplification. A set of older people living in home environment and having graduated from the University of the Third Age at the University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budějovice (Czech Republic) Assessment of quality of life of older people in old people’s homes serve as contrast group. That set is identified with the abbreviation “U3V” (= univerzita třetiho věku = University of the Third Age) in the tables. Higher level of activity and vitality than the levels typical for the basic set can be rightfully expected from the U3V older people; therefore their results are approached as contrast to the results of the older people from old people‘s homes. To identify the satisfaction in significant life domains, we use Czech versions of the questionnaires developed for the purpose of assessment of quality of life of older people by the WHO work group. The WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire is the first of them. The WHOQOL –BREF questionnaire of quality of life is used as additional module.