Quality of Life in the Nursing Home: Perspectives of Younger and Older Residents

Adults aged 65 and younger make up a significant proportion of nursing-home residents. To date, however, there is no research examining their quality of life (QOL), including how their perceptions of QOL compare to those of older nursing-home residents. This study used a multidimensional approach to (a) assess the QOL of younger nursing-home residents and its relationship to health, social support, and leisure activities; and (b) compare the QOLs of younger and older residents. The sample consisted of 43 younger residents ( M = 53.7 years) and 38 older residents ( M = 79.92 years). Results indicate that there were no age differences in QOL, suggesting the need for a broad conceptualization of QOL in the nursing-home population.