Life satisfaction and quality of life among disabled elderly adults

This paper investigates predictors of life satisfaction and quality of life among severely disabled elderly adults. Markides and Martin's (1979) path analysis model was adapted specifically to elderly persons with severe disabilities. The study group comprised 97 patients discharged from three medical rehabilitation facilities in metropolitan Boston during 1984. The adapted model explained about 40% of the variance in quality of life among both men and women, with functional capacity being the most important predictor.