Quality of Life Indicators: The Objective-Subjective Interrelationship That Exists within One’s ‘Place of Residence’ in Old Age

Abstract

Using a largely qualitative research design, this study originally explored how a small cohort of aged clients and human service workers assessed and measured Quality of Life (QOL) amongst older people. A literature review was undertaken and interviews were conducted with participants from Community Vision Incorporated (CVI) and other key informants from separate human service agencies. The findings suggested that there was a dichotomous relationship between the perceived affects that in-home care and aged care facilities had on the QOL of older people. A number of participants suggested that in-home care and aged care facilities were disempowering and overall, impacted negatively on the Objective QOL (O-QOL) and Subjective QOL (S-QOL) of older people. This paper will outline these complexities and further discuss related themes, issues and new insights into the relationship between an older person’s ‘place of residence’ and other O & S-QOL indicators.