Investigating the Quality of Life of Healthy Elderly Volunteers in the Health Centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 2016

Aim: Aging is a process that involves all living creatures, including human beings. Statistical indicators show that the aging trend is progressing in Iran, too. The volunteer women cooperating with the urban areas’ health system (called Healthy Volunteers) are amongst the pioneers and symbols of health care social participation. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 86 elderly members of the healthy volunteer group of health centers. Data collection instruments consisted of demographic information and LEIPAD questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS18 and descriptive and analytic statistics. Findings: The mean age of the participants was 64±4.007 years. The mean total score of QOL was 72.7±11.32. The mean score of the seven dimensions of QOL was as follows: physical function (71.5%), self-care (92.4%), social function (76.7%), anxiety and depression (82.8%), life satisfaction (67.9%), sexual function (71.5%) and cognitive function (78.9%). There was no significant relationship between QOL the variables such as age, educational level, marital status and number of family members (P> 0.05). However, the relationship between QOL and the duration of elderly cooperation was significant (r=0.23, P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the quality of life in healthy volunteers was moderate. Therefore, health volunteers as elderly persons are role models and can take effective steps in the transfer of health information in the community.

Keywords:

Elderly , Quality of life , Healthy volunteer