Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, EDİRNE
Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Halk Sağlığı Anabilim Dalı-EDİRNE Quality of life tends to deteriorate with aging. In this study factors having impact on life quality were assessed in elderly institution residents. For this aim, demographic and educational status of 21 (%21.9) women and 75 (% 78.1) men, totally 96 subjects were evaluated. Investigations of systemic disease history and cane usage as well as vision deficits, cognitive functions, physical activity and life quality were performed. Cognitional status was evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination Scale (MMSES). Activity scores were calculated by adding the points got from self-cleaning, shopping, transport, eating, bathing, wearing, grooming, transfer, continans and feeding activities according to independence levels in each. Quality of life was evaluated by Nottingham Health Profile Evaluation (NHPE). The patient characteristics were identified and factors having impact on life quality were assessed by stepwise lineer regression analysis in which NHPE was the dependant factor, where age, systemic disease history, cane usage, vision deficits, MMSES and activity scores were the independent ones. Significant factors in this analysis were investigated for whether they have any correlations with the subsections of NHPS. Seventy-four subjects (% 77.1 ) had systemic disease while 49 (%51) had vision deficits. Thirty-four (%35.4) of the residents were using canes. The mean MMSES, activity score and NHPS values of the subjects were found to be 19.7:t6.7, 27.3:t4.3 and 62.3:t9.8 consecutively. Only MMSES and activity score were determined to have significant impact on NHPS in the regression analysis with the equation (NHPS= 41.945+0.332 x MMSES+0.640 x activity score). The same parameters were found to correlate with the subsections of NHPS as pain status, energy level, emotional status, physical abilities and social isolation (p<0.05). We believe cognitive functions and activity levels have prominent roles on life quality in people over the age of 65. Keywords : Aging, Life quality, Cognition, Physical activity