QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE ELDERLY: elements of social participation as assubsidies to sustainable public policy

This study aims to identify the perception of the elderly residents in the city of São João da Boa Vista, São Paulo, regarding their quality of life (QOL) and existing local actions, directed to them. It is a descriptive... [ view full abstract ]

This study aims to identify the perception of the elderly residents in the city of São João da Boa Vista, São Paulo, regarding their quality of life (QOL) and existing local actions, directed to them. It is a descriptive field study with cross-sectional design and quantitative analysis base. 389 seniors, both male and female around the age of 60 or more, were approached. They excluded those with physical disabilities and or cognitive. Volunteers, after giving their consent, answered the characterization sheet and the questionnaire on the Quality of Life of the elderly, (WHOQOL -old and BREF). The average age was 72.5 years, 68.4 % were women, 45.2 % were married, 46.5 % completed their studies until the 4th grade of elementary school and 16.7 % had finished middle school or more, 96.7% are retired and 57.2 % had full or part time jobs. The seniors were satisfied with their LQ and health, particularly in the fields of social and environmental interactions. Having a full time job showed an inverse relationship with the four domains of QOL and operational facets of the senses and social participation, showed a positive relationship with the autonomy facet. With regard to marital status, married and single best evaluated QOL facet in social participation. Despite the lack of articulation among the activities in the city, there is a satisfactory participation of the elderly in social and leisure events, which positively influences the QOL of the elderly in the physical, psychological, social and environmental relations, in addition to the perception of facets on the operation of the senses, past, present and future activities, social participation and relations with death and dying. We conclude that the appropriate structuring of local public policies, directed to the elderly, can promote sustainable human aging.