[Social status and life satisfaction of the elderly]

A rating instrument suited for a standardized evaluation of the social situation within a geriatric assessment is presented. The social dimensions "activities", "contacts", "living" and "finances" are screened by means of four to ten items and reflected by respective scores. The instrument was applied in a study group of 60 elderly persons of the general population and evaluated by means of life satisfaction measures. Positive correlations between the dimensions of the social situation and the respective domains of life satisfaction were found. Cut-offs, allowing the identification of patients, whose social situation is indicative for a low life satisfaction, are proposed.