How do Seniors define “Quality of Life?”

A recent Forbes magazine article highlighted a subjective difference regarding “quality of life” for people at various stages of life. They explain, “given the ambiguity surrounding the oft-used phrase and its meaning, it follows that there’s often confusion regarding how best to support quality of life for elderly people.”

To help sort through what quality of life for seniors may mean, Pew Research surveyed a range of people in 2009 to find out their views on aging and quality of life. To start with, they found a big difference in the way younger and older people perceived their past years and future years. The report found 76 percent of U.S. residents aged 75 years and older said while they were presently satisfied with their lives, only 19 percent believe their lives will improve over the next decade. They additionally said the last ten years had been better than the present. Conversely 71 percent of adults 50 years old and younger felt the next ten years will be even better. 

Researchers say while different perspectives were offered by younger respondents and the older group, the majority of participants, regardless of age, said the ability to communicate with others is extremely important to quality of life. Other important takeaways from the survey were older people want to be heard, to connect with others, and to be able to continue their much-loved activities and hobbies. They also voiced a desire to feel useful and to be needed.  

MorningStar of Arvada offers 112 bright independent and assisted living suites to area seniors along with another 29 secure memory care suites in our Reflections’ wing to care for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Every aspect of our memory care is designed to provide the environment for our most tender residents including meaningful daily activities. We encourage you to visit our website for further information regarding independent and assisted living as well as the best memory care Arvada CO offers.