Skip to main content

Quality of life: assessment and improvement

  • Chapter
Care of the Long-Stay Elderly Patient

Abstract

Those providing long-term care would no doubt agree that the aim is to give the patients or residents the best possible quality of life. However, just as there will be universal agreement as to this general goal, there will be a thousand and more views on just what this means and how it should be achieved. In this chapter I shall attempt to answer four questions: why measure quality of life, how can this be defined, how can this be measured, and how can such measures be applied to the evaluation of long-term care?

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams, M.A. (1973) Subjective social indications. Social Trends., 4, 35–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, D.L. (1969) Analysis of a Life-satisfaction Index. J. Gerontol., 24, 470–474.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, F.M. (1974) Social indicators of perceived life quality. Social Indicators Res., 1, 279–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, F.M. and Withey, S.B. (1974) Developing measures of perceived life quality: results from several national surveys. Social Indicators Res., 1, 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M. (1961) An inventory for measuring depression. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 4, 561–567.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bigot, A. (1974) The relevance of American life satisfaction indices for research on British subjects before and after retirement. Age Ageing, 3, 113–121.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Botwinick, J., West, R. and Storant, M. (1978) Predicting death from behavioral test performance. J. Gerontol., 33, 755–762.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, V.A. and Gibson, D.M. (1987) Adjustment to retirement: what we know and what we need to know. Ageing Society, 7, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, P.L., Moos, R. and Lemke, S. (1988) Preferences of older adults for physical and architectural features of group living facilities. Gerontologist, 28, 84–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brodman, K., Erdmann, A.J., Lorge, I. and Wolff, H.G. (1951) The Cornell Medical Index-Health Questionnaire. JAMA., 145, 152–157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Policy on Ageing (1984) Home Life: a Code of Practice for Residential Care. Centre for Policy on Ageing, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, A. and Fallowfield, L.J. (1986) Quality of life measurements in patients with malignant disease: a review. J. Roy. Soc. Med., 79, 165–169.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, P.G. (1986) Ageing and Reminiscence Processes, Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, J.R.M., Kelleher, M.J., Kellett, J.M. and Gourlay, A.J. (1976) A semistructured clinical interview in the elderly: the geriatric mental status schedule. 1. Development and reliability. Psychol. Med.. 6, 439–449.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DHSS (1976) A Life Style for the Elderly. HMSO, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • DHSS (1980) Hospital Accommodation for Elderly People, Draft Building Note No. 37. HMSO, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duke University Center for the Study of Ageing and Human Development (1978) Multidimensional Functional Assessment: the OARS Methodology, A Manual. The Center for Ageing, Durham, NC, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folstein, J., Folstein, S. and McHugh, P. (1975) Mini-mental state. J. Psychiat. Res., 12, 189–198.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, D. (1978) Manual of the General Health Questionnaire, NFER-Nelson, Windsor, U.K.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, J. (1976) Subjective measures of quality of life in Britain, 1971–1975: some developments and trends. Social Trends, 7, 47–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, M. (1960) A rating scale for depression. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 23, 56–62.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, H., Lipman, A. and Slater, R. (1977) Architectural design: the spatial location and interactions of old people. Gerontology, 23, 390–400.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Havighurst, R.J. (1963) ‘Successful Ageing’, in Process of Ageing: Social and Psychological Perceptors (eds R.H. Williams, C. Tibbits and W. Donahue ), Atherton Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, U.P. and Woods, R.T. (1988) Reality Orientation: Psychological Approaches to the ‘Confused’ Elderly, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, J., Felce, D., Lunt, B. and Powell, E. (1977) Increasing engagement in activity of residents in old peoples’ homes by providing recreational materials. Behay. Res. Therap., 15, 429–434.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kane, R.L. and Kane, R.A. (1981) Assessing the Elderly: a Practical Guide to Measurement, DC Heath, Lexington, MA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kane, R.L., Bell, R., Riegler, S. et al. (1983a) Assessing the outcomes of nursing-home patients. J. Gerontol., 38, 385–393.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kane, R.L., Bell, R., Riegler, S. et al. (1983b) Predicting the outcomes of nursing home patients. Gerontologist, 23, 200–206.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp, M. and Harrissis, K. (1981) Staff vacancies and turnover in British old peoples’homes. Gerontologist, 21, 76–84.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kozma, A. and Stones, M.J. (1980) The measurement of happiness: development of the Memorial University of Newfoundland scale of happiness. J. Gerontol., 35, 906–912.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kutner, B., Fanshel, D., Togo, A.M. and Donovan, J.D. (1956) Five Hundred Over Sixty, Russell Sage Foundation, New York, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M.P., (1971) The functional assessment of elderly people. J. Am. Geriatrics Soc., 19, 465–481.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemke, S. and Moos, R. (19780) Assessing the institutional policies of sheltered care settings. J. Gerontol., 35, 96–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lim, M.L. and Ebrahim, S.B.J. (1983) Depression after stroke: a hospital treatment survey. Postgrad. Med. J., 59, 489–491.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lohmann, N. (1977) Correlations of life satisfaction, morale and adjustment measures. J. Gerontol., 32, 73–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luker, K.A. (1969) Measuring life satisfaction in an elderly population. J. Adv. Nurs., 4, 503–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meer, B. and Baker, J.A. (1966) The Stockton Geriatric Rating Scale. J. Gerontol., 21, 392–403.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. (1980) Specialized living environments for older people: a conceptual framework. J. Soc. Issues, 36, 75–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. and Igra, A. (1980) Determinants of the social environments of sheltered care settings. J. Health Soc. Behay., 21, 88–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. and Lemke, S. (1984a) Multiphasic Environmental Assessment Procedure (MEAP): Manual, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. and Lemke, S. (1984b) MEAP Supplementary Manual: Ideal and Expectation Forms, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, E. (1982) Social origins of depression in old age. Br. J. Psychiatry, 141, 135–142.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Association of Helath Authorities (1985) A code of guidance for the inspection and registration of nursing homes. NAHA, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neugarten, B.L., Havighurst, R.J. and Tobin, S.S. (1961) The Measurement of life satisfaction. J. Gerontol., 16, 134–143.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nirenberg, T.D. (1983) Relocation of institutionalized elderly. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol., 51, 693–701.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Open University (1988) Working with Mental Health Problems in Old Age, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmore, E. and Luikart, C. (1972) Health and social factors related to life satisfaction. J. Health Soc. Behay., 3, 68–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pattie, A.H. and Gilleard, C.J. (1979) The Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly, Hodder and Stoughton, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, R.G., Knapp, T.J., Rosen, J.D. and Pither, B.F. (1977) The effect of furniture arrangement. Behay. Therapy, 8, 464–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porterfield, J. (1987) Positive Monitoring, British Institute of Mental Handicap, Kidderminster. UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell-Procter, L. and Miller, E. (1982) Reality orientation: a critical appraisal. Br. J. Psychiat., 140, 457–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raphael, W. and Mandeville,J. (1979) Old People in Hospital. King Edward’s Hospital Fund, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reingold, J., Grossman, H.D. and Burros, N. (1987) Merit Gram: a form of recognition in a long-term care setting. Gerontologist, 27, 147–150.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, R.G. and Price, T.R. (1982) Post-stroke depressive disorders: a follow-up study of 103 patients. Stroke, 13, 635–641.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosow, I. and Breslau, N. (1966) A Guttman health scale for the aged. J. Gerontol., 21, 556–559.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, M., Huppert, F.A. Tym, E. and Mountjoy, C.Q. (1988) The Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders in the Elderly, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, S., Woods, R.T. and Britton, P.G. (1981) Depression and engagement in a residential home for the elderly. Behay. Res. Thera p., 19, 435–438.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, E. and Snyder, E. (1974) Correlates of life satisfaction among the aged. J. Gerontol., 29, 454–458.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Twining, T.C. (1988) Helping Older People: a Psychological Approach, Wiley, Chichester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Twining, T.C. and Allen, D.G. (1981) Disability factors among residents of old people’s homes. J. Epidemiol. Comm. Health, 35, 205–207.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weihl, H. (1981) On the relationship between the size of residential institutions and the well-being of residents. Gerontologist, 21, 247–250.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, L.M. and Singer, C. (1988) Quality of life in institutions for the elderly: maximizing well-being. Gerontologist, 28, 266–269.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, J.K. and Brown, G.W. (1970) Institutionalisation and Schizophrenia, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolk, S. and Telleen, S. (1976) Psychological and social correlates of life satisfaction as a function of residential constraint. J. Gerontology, 31, 89–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, V., Wylie, M. and Sheafer, B. (1969) An analysis of a short self-report measure of life satisfaction: correlation with raters’ judgements. J. Gerontol., 24, 465–469.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woods, R.T. and Britton P.G. (1985) Clinical Psychology with the Elderly, Croom Helm, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yesavage, J.A., Brink, T.L., Rose, T.L. (1983) Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. J. Psychiatr. Res., 17, 37–49.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ziller, R.C. (1974) Self other orientations and quality of life. Soc. Indicators Res., 1, 301–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zung, W.W.K. (1965) A self rating depression scale. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 12, 63–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Twining, C. (1991). Quality of life: assessment and improvement. In: Denham, M.J. (eds) Care of the Long-Stay Elderly Patient. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3380-5_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3380-5_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-412-34770-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-3380-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics