[Quality of life of elderly subjects living in basic social dwellings]

In Chile, the government is providing basic dwellings to poor elderly subjects that do not have a place to live. These dwellings may be located in buildings or in codominiums.

To assess the quality of life perception of elderly subjects whose dwellings are located in buildings or in condominiums.

The brief version of the quality of life questionnaire designed for the elderly by the World Health Organization (WHOQoL-BREF) was applied to elderly subjects of seven poor communities of Metropolitan Santiago, that lived in basic dwellings located in buildings or condominiums. The questionnaire includes questions about physical, psychological, social relations and environment domains.

The questionnaire was answered by 124 elderly subjects aged 60 to 90 years, living in condominiums and 152 subjects aged 62 to 94 years, living in buildings. Satisfaction was of moderate or high level for physical, psychological and social relations domains. Those living in condominiums had a better satisfaction level in this last domain. The level of satisfaction of the environment domain was moderate and better for those living in condominiums. The perception of quality of life deteriorated along with age.

Elderly subjects living in basic dwellings located in condominiums have a better quality of life perception than those living in buildings.