The Quality of Life of the Elderly in Sabzevar, Iran

Background and Geriatric age is a course in life where the elderly are subject to potential threats such as chronic diseases, isolation and seclusion, lack of social support, and accordingly mental and physical disabilities threaten their personal independence. These factors can lead to diminish the quality of life. Therefore, the quality of life of the elderly people in Sabzevar was investigated in this study. Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional descriptive analytical study, 304 elderly of above 60 years dwelling in Sabzevar, Iran in 2010 were selected through systematic cluster sampling. The study data were collected through standardized SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire. They were analyzed through frequency tables and mean ± SD, using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and chi-square in SPSS 15. Level of significance was considered 0.05. The mean quality of life was 44.9±8.7. The highest mean was associated with energy and vigor (50.6±0.5) and the lowest with general health (39.2±19.7). In general, 38.7% had a good life quality and 23.3% did not. Also, 44.4% of elderly men had unsuitable quality of life as far as pain was concerned, and 44.3% were affected with limited physical movement. No significant differences were observed between men and women as regards their limited activity, as well as social, mental and physical problems. However, there was a significant difference as to their pain. Since all dimensions of life quality were below 50 in the present study, the life quality of elderly people in Sabzevar, Iran can be considered unsatisfactory.