Health-related Quality of Life by Age among Vulnerable Elderly Women in Korea

Objective :This study was performed to investigate the factors affecting on the health-related quality of life of young-old(65-69 yr), old-old(70-79 yr), and oldest-old(80 yr or above) women in vulnerable elderly received home care service from public health centers in Korea.
Methods :The data were collected from 383 elderly women. Multiple regression were used to analyze the data.
Results : There were statistically significant differences among young-old, old-old, and oldest-old women regarding the health-related quality of life, life satisfaction, cognitive function, frail condition. The models including life satisfaction, frail condition, cognitive function, perceived health status, number of chronic diseases were explained variance of the health-related quality of life elderly women differently like 42.8% of young-old, 28.9% of old-old, and 31.5% of oldest-old.
Conclusion : Finally, frail condition and life satisfaction were predictors in explaining the level of health-related quality of life among vulnerable old women regardless of age. Based on the findings of the study, health promotion programs should be developed to improve health-related quality of life of vulnerable aged women according to age differences.

Key Words: Elderly, Women, Quality of life, Vulnerable population