The health dimension in evaluating Quality of Life: The subjective experience of elderly people in the Madrid Region

PRIETO FLORES, M.E.; FERNANDEZ-MAYORALAS, G.; ROSENBERG, M.W.; ROJO-PEREZ, F.

Congreso; XII International Symposium in Medical Geography; 2007

Introduction: Among the different domains that represent overall Quality of Life, the health dimension is especially significant for aging people. But, how does subjective health interact on other life domains and how does it affect satisfaction with life? The main objective of this work is to explore the subjective experience of health in Quality of Life among elderly people in the Madrid Region. This work belongs to a wider program of research which in addition includes the analysis of objective conditions and the opinion of services providers for seniors at the community level. Methods: The paper uses a qualitative approach based on Grounded Theory using semi-structured interviews. The participants are elderly people living in different areas of the Madrid Region, with and without difficulties in daily activities, as an indicator of health status. Results and conclusions: Different models of the relationship between the subjective experience of health and Quality of Life are constructed. These models have potential to gain a deeper understanding about the complexity of health and Quality of Life as interrelated concepts, as well as on the diversity of experiences in aging process. It is also expected that these models be useful to inform public policy and to improve the provision of services for the elderly population.