Centre for Policy on Ageing



Whose quality of life is it anyway? — why not ask seniors to tell us about it?
Author(s)	Prem S Fry
Journal title	International Journal of Aging and Human Development, vol 50, no 4, 2000
Pages	pp 361-384
Keywords	Quality of life ; Attitude ; Evaluation ; Canada.
Annotation	331 older Canadians participated in a study designed to examine their perceptions of what constitutes a reasonable quality of life. Their responses to a questionnaire were subjected to a principal components factor analysis which yielded four factors: respondents' demands for specific guarantees; respondents aspirations and expectations for future quality of life; fears and anxieties; and external factors presenting a threat to quality of life. Data from in-depth interviews with 37 of the participants were analysed using a qualitative approach. Contrary to stereotypical notions that older people are frail, vulnerable and resigned to deteriorating conditions of well-being in late life, the results of both the qualitative and quantitative components of the study showed most respondents as having clear demands for autonomy, control and independence in making decisions, including the decision to end life. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-001201207 A
Classmark	F:59: DP: 4C: 7S
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.