Quality of life in the older adult population of a geriatric center in Metropolitan Lima

INTRODUCTION

Population aging is a global problem that brings many challenges and opportunities for modern societies.(1,2) The search for healthy aging and older-friendly communities is an important public health priority that depends largely on supportive environments that meet the social and health needs of older adults.(3,4)

Population aging is a global phenomenon caused by increased survival and life expectancy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 2020 and 2030, the number of elderly people on the planet will increase by 34 %. By 2050, around 65 % of older people will be concentrated mainly in low- and middle-income regions. Aging requires countries to reflect and take measures to respond to the social and health needs of this population group.(5)

The WHO has declared the decade from 2021 to 2030 the "Decade of Healthy Aging" and urges countries and all public and private institutions to take concerted action to improve the living conditions and well-being of older people. There are already more than one billion elderly people on the planet, most of whom live in developing countries, where they face many limitations in accessing basic resources and achieving adequate well-being.(6)

CV is an individual's perception of life in the context of the culture and value system in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.(7) Aging is generally defined as a process of decline in an individual's functional capacity resulting from structural changes with advancing age.(8)

Likewise, aging is an inevitable process, commonly measured by chronological age, and, as a convention, a person aged 65 or older is usually referred to as elderly. Healthy aging is considered a continuous process of optimizing opportunities to maintain and improve the holistic health, independence, and QoL of older adults.(9)

The elderly are understood to be those aged 65 and over, a term applied precisely because of the degree of susceptibility of the person due to advanced age and the anatomical and physiological deterioration of their health condition.(10,11) That is why the quality of life of older adults must be prioritized, given that their susceptibility to becoming vulnerable to different risk situations at that age compromises their quality of life.(12,13)

In a study conducted in India with 977 elderly participants, the results showed that the quality of life of older people tends to be lower in relation to gender, education, and financial dependence. The study concluded that physical, psychological, and social status play an important role in the quality of life of older adults.(14)

In a study conducted in Mexico with 450 older adults, the results showed that older adults have a good quality of life in relation to their sensory abilities and social interaction. The study concluded that the quality of life of older adults was good, given that they were in good emotional and physical health.(15)

In a study conducted in France with 184 older adults, the results showed that 69,1 % of participants had a very good quality of life, and 59,1 % were satisfied with their sexual functioning. Concluding that the quality of life of older adults is very good, given that they are satisfied with their social relationships and lifestyle, and that this allows for a balance in their quality of life.(16)

Therefore, the objective of the research is to determine the quality of life of the elderly population in a geriatric center in Metropolitan Lima.

METHODS

Place and Application of the Instrument

For the application of the instrument, prior arrangements were made for data collection activities at the geriatric center, and the necessary information about the research was provided to both health professionals and older adults.

RESULTS

In figure 1, we can see that in terms of quality of life, 11,1 % of participants had a poor quality of life, 77,1 % had a moderately good quality of life, and 11,8 % had a good quality of life.

In figure 2, with regard to sensory capacity, 13,7 % of participants had a good quality of life, 73,2 % had a moderately good quality of life, and 13,1 % had a poor quality of life.

Figure 3 shows that, with regard to the autonomy dimension, 15,7 % of participants have a good quality of life, 64,1 % have a moderately good quality of life, and 20,3 % have a poor quality of life.

Figure 4 shows that, with regard to the dimension of past, present, and future activities, 53,6 % of participants have a poor quality of life, 35,9 % have a moderately good quality of life, and 10,5 % have a poor quality of life.

In figure 5, with regard to the social participation dimension, 56,9 % of participants have a good quality of life, 35,9 % have a moderately good quality of life, and 7,2 % have a poor quality of life.

In figure 6, with regard to the death/agony dimension, 13,1 % of participants have a good quality of life, 59,5 % have a moderately good quality of life, and 27,5 % have a poor quality of life.

In figure 7, with regard to the intimacy dimension, 20,3 % of participants have a good quality of life, 56,2 % have a moderately good quality of life, and 23,5 % have a poor quality of life

DISCUSSION

Quality of life in older adults increasingly poses challenges in which health systems and social security must be increasingly connected with the elderly, as this is essential to observe the health status of older adults and to be able to implement health strategies that benefit their overall health.

In terms of quality of life, it was observed that most older adults have a moderately good quality of life. This is because, as people age, their health deteriorates over time, making their situation increasingly difficult. Therefore, assessing their quality of life is essential, as it will give us an overview of their health condition so that measures can be taken to maintain or improve their health in a comprehensive manner. However, the decline in quality of life in older adults is also due to inadequate family support and social interaction.

In terms of its dimensions, we observe that older adults have a moderately good quality of life. This is because, as older adults, the presence of diseases or complications that compromise their mental health can limit their daily activities and reduce their quality of life. However, suffering from a disease, depending on a family member, not having a high social status, and not having an education seriously affects a person's quality of life. Therefore, these aspects play a fundamental role in the lives of older adults. However, quality of life tends to deteriorate if older adults do not have family support, have physical limitations, and lack social opportunities, all of which are barriers that prevent them from improving their quality of life.

It is therefore important for health professionals to take into account the importance of a good quality of life at this stage, given that various factors can compromise quality of life. Comprehensive support strategies, health checks, psycho-emotional guidance, and recreational activities for older adults allow for interaction and, therefore, their quality of life can increase or remain stable.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that strategies or campaigns should be implemented to provide comprehensive preventive and promotional health care for older adults.

It is concluded that older adults should be monitored to observe any conditions that may diminish their quality of life.

It is concluded that educational talks should be given to older adults on how to have a stable quality of life.

References

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