Perceptions of well-being in two groups of older adults: long term care center residents and non-residents, in Curicó, Chile.
Fecha
2017Autor
Collings, Peter
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Institución
Resumen
This study assesses perceptions of well-being between two groups of older adults in Curico, Chile. One group (n=25) were residents from a long-term care center (known as ELEAM), while another group (also 25) were members from clubs for older adults, who lived in their own homes. Both groups were paired according to the variables of age, educational level, socioeconomic status and physical status.
This study consisted of two phases of data collection. The first phase included participant observation and survey research, measuring five components of well-being: life satisfaction, health status, self-rated health, social support, and socioeconomic status. Data showed that both groups had similar characteristics in self-rated health and epidemiological profile. However, in social support, ELEAM residents reported scores. Regarding life satisfaction, although both groups had average scores for developed nations, the distribution of scores was completely different. Some ELEAM residents were extremely dissatisfied with their lives. Instead, most club members were in the average category. This data concludes that the sum of each one of these factors did affect the perception of well-being among ELEAM residents.
The second phase of the research involved the collection of life story narratives to explore differences in how older adults in different living situations --long-term residential care vs. independent living-- define and perceive what it means to be well in old age. Narrative data provided a context for each participant’s life, showing that during adulthood and adolescence, both groups were similar in terms of traditional roles: girls helping with house chores, and boys either working or studying. During adulthood, these gender roles are still present: women become mothers, and among those childless they stayed at home. Men spent most of their time either working or having fun with friends. Finally, during old age, both groups showed their desire to be tranquilo or “peaceful”. However, both groups have different ways to reach that state: ELEAM residents focused on keeping good relationships with fellow residents and maintaining their autonomy. Club members focused on their relationships with their families, and engaging in activities such as gardening, and participating in clubs for older adults.