ABSTRACT
Background: In Chile, the government is providing basic dwellings to poor elderly subjects that do not have a place to live. These dwellings may be located in buildings or in codominiums. Aim: To assess the quality of life perception of elderly subjects whose dwellings are located in buildings or in condominiums. Material and methods: The brief version of the quality of life questionnaire designed for the elderly by the World Health Organization (WHOQoL-BREF) was applied to elderly subjects of seven poor communities of Metropolitan Santiago, that lived in basic dwellings located in buildings or condominiums. The questionnaire includes questions about physical, psychological, social relations and environment domains. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 124 elderly subjects aged 60 to 90 years, living in condominiums and 152 subjects aged 62 to 94 years, living in buildings. Satisfaction was of moderate or high level for physical, psychological and social relations domains. Those living in condominiums had a better satisfaction level in this last domain. The level of satisfaction of the environment domain was moderate and better for those living in condominiums. The perception of quality of life deteriorated along with age. Conclusions: Elderly subjects living in basic dwellings located in condominiums have a better quality of life perception than those living in buildings.
Subject(s)
Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Housing for the Elderly/standards , Quality of Life , Social Support , Chile , Cross-Sectional Studies , Poverty , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJETIVOS: Identificar, comparar y analizar las redes sociales de dos grupos de adultos mayores pobres, beneficiarios de dos tipos de viviendas sociales, en términos de tipos de nodos, frecuencia y motivo del vínculo, antes y después del traslado a sus nuevos domicilios. MÉTODO: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de beneficiarios de viviendas en edificio, o bien de viviendas en condominios. El universo en estudio fue el colectivo de personas asignatarias a viviendas en edificio (n = 152) y a viviendas en condominio (n = 124), entre 1998 y 2001, a las cuales se les aplicó una encuesta en su domicilio. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los participantes en el estudio informaron que la asignación de la vivienda implicó para ellos mudarse a barrios distantes de su antiguo domicilio, lo que provocó, entre otras consecuencias, un cambio en sus redes sociales. Ambos grupos tienen, en general, redes sociales similares, constituyendo los hijos el principal nodo de apoyo, antes y después del cambio de domicilio. Después del traslado se redujeron los vínculos en general, excepto en el caso de los adultos de vivienda en edificio, quienes incrementaron levemente sus vínculos con los hijos y en forma destacada con personas con quienes tienen vínculos débiles y que no son propiamente familiares ni amigos. Los vínculos con las instituciones también disminuyeron, aunque en el caso de las instituciones de adultos mayores aumentaron, para los residentes en condominios de 28 por ciento a 65 por ciento, y para los asignatarios de edificios, de 31 por ciento a 45 por ciento. CONCLUSIONES: Se sugiere que en los programas semejantes al estudiado se tome en cuenta la importancia que revisten la conservación y el fortalecimiento de las redes sociales creadas antes del traslado, y que se fomente la generación de vínculos en el nuevo sitio de residencia.
OBJECTIVES: To identify, compare, and analyze the social networks of two groups of poor, older adults in two types of public housing projects in Chile, in terms of the types of relationships and the frequency and purpose of their interactions, before and after moving to their new homes. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted of public housing beneficiaries in apartment buildings versus condominiums. The study pool was the group of people assigned to housing in buildings (n = 152) and condominiums (n = 124) from 1998 to 2001. A questionnaire was administered in their homes. RESULTS: Most study participants indicated that the move to public housing meant leaving their old neighborhood for a new one, a change that, among other consequences, produced changes in their social networks. In general, both groups have similar social networks, with their children being the strongest source of support, both before and after the move. After the move, social interaction generally decreased, except among the adults living in apartment buildings, for whom it increased slightly with family members, and in a superficial manner, with others who had weak connections and were neither friends nor family. Interactions with establishments also decreased, although interactions with senior services increased for the condo residents from 28 percent to 65 percent and for apartment residents from 31 percent to 45 percent. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that similar programs strive to preserve and strengthen the social networks in place prior to moving and encourage the formation of relationships in the new residences.
Subject(s)
Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Humans , Middle Aged , Housing for the Elderly , Interpersonal Relations , Public Housing , Social Adjustment , Age Factors , Chi-Square Distribution , Chile , Housing , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Background: The perception of the population about their needs must be considered in health care planning. Aim: To describe health care needs from the perspective of potential clients of public health services. Material and methods: An enquiry to a representative sample of 202 dwellings, ascribed to a Family Health Service, was done. Subjects were asked about the health problems in their family and neighborhood. Twelve families from this sample were randomly chosen and interviewed about their health conception, needs and demands. Results: The mean age of subjects, per dwelling, was 31 years. Fifty percent were nuclear families and 6 percent were mono parental. Perceived problems were economical in 60 percent and health related in 12 percent. Eighty percent of health problems were related to addictions and violence. Interviewed subjects associated health with lack of services, with their experience with illness and pain and with a risk of social isolation and incommunication. Health care demands were referred to a better medical care. People declared needs in environmental hygiene, physical and mental health self care, food and jobs. Conclusions: Using this information, simple strategies could be implemented to cope with health care demands of the population