[The quality of life in aged people]

The quality of life (QOL) in aged people is an important issue that has been discussed for a long time and led to a number of studies. In this review article, the relationship between subjective QOL of the aged and various factors is summarized by referring to articles published in the United States of America. In the first chapter, representative methods for the quantitative analysis of subjective QOL are described. Among a variety of methods for measuring subjective QOL, the LSI-A and the PGC Morale Scales are commonly used. In the next chapter, based on the studies using these methods, various factors that determined subjective QOL are analyzed. These studies indicate that physical well-being and socio-economic status are significant determinants of the QOL for the aged people. In addition, employment and social activity are shown to be associated with subjective QOL. On the other hand, age, gender, race and marital status do not have an influence on subjective QOL for the aged as individual factors. QOL can not be measured with a unidimensional scale. Therefore, it is necessary for the investigator to carefully choose an appropriate analytical method by understanding the characteristics of the research subject and the purpose of the study. It is also essential to keep it in mind that any method has its own limitations in analyzing QOL.