Özet:

Objectives: Improving the quality of life for the rapidly growing elderly population plays a key role in good health standards. This study aims to compare the quality of life of elderly people living in their home and senior centers, and to determine socio-demographic factors that could affect their quality of life. Materials and Methods: In this study, we enrolled 400 people aged ≥65 years; 198 of them were elderly who applied for any reason to Etfal Training and Research Hospital Family Medicine Policlinic, between February-October 2014; and 202 of them were living in Nursing Homes. The survey questioned socio-demographic features and the Turkish version of quality of life developed by World Health Organization was applied. Results: We examined 400 people [188(47%) males and 212(53%) females]. Of these, 202 (50.50%; average age=73.3±6.7 years) were living in their homes and 198(49.50%; average age: 73.2±7.3 years) in senior centers. Furthermore, the physical, psychological, social and environmental field scores of people living in their homes were significantly higher than those living in senior centers (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study reveals that the quality of life is higher in elderly who live in their homes than those who live in nursing homes. The older age, marital status, higher education level, increase in the income, and not having children negatively affect the quality of life in individuals living in their homes. In elderly people living in senior centers, advanced age, female gender and having a chronic illness negatively affect the quality of life.

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