Abstract:

This research was conducted to examine the relationship between health perception and life satisfaction of elderly people living in nursing homes. This study, which was conducted in accordance with the descriptive research principles seeking relationship, was conducted with elderly individuals living in five nursing homes in Samsun between March and July 2019. Sample selection was not made within the scope of the research, and 129 elderly individuals aged 65 and over were reached. The data of the study were collected using the "Personal Information Form", "Health Perception Scale" and "Satisfaction with Life Scale". The data obtained from the research were evaluated in the SPSS 20.0 program. While evaluating the research data; number, percentile, T test, One Way ANOVA, correlation and multiple regression analysis were used. 27.9% of the participants are women. 10.1% of the participants are married and 81.4% have children. It was determined that 79.8% of the participants made their own decision to stay in a nursing home and 66.7% had visitors. It was determined that 72.9% of the participants had a chronic health problem and 31.8% evaluated their health as bad. While 13.2% of the participants consider themselves to be very old, 17.1% consider old age as a bad condition. Participants' health perception scale total score averages were 50.21±6.40, (min-max=31-65), and life satisfaction scale total score averages were 14.4±4.81, (min-max=5-25). A statistically significant relationship was found between the participants' state of having any chronic health problems and the places they want to live, and the health perception scale (p<0.05). A statistically significant relationship was found between the places where the participants wanted to live, their health assessment, their age and old age perception, and the life satisfaction scale (p<0.05). It has been determined that the health perceptions and life satisfaction of the elderly individuals living in the nursing home are at a moderate level. Social activities that increase the health perceptions and life satisfaction of the elderly in nursing homes should be planned and studies in this direction should be increased.

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