Comparing the quality of life in happiness and health of the elderly people living in nursing home and family environment at zonguldak

This study was conducted as a descriptive study to examine the quality of life and happiness of elderly people living in nursing homes. In the aim of this study, 48 elderly people living in a nursing home and 96 elderly individuals living in a family located within the bound areas of Zonguldak province were examined. The research sample consisted of 84 elderly individuals, which are aged 60 years and over, and able to communicate to another person. World Health Organization Quality of Life Elderly Module and Oxford Happiness Scale were used to evaluate the quality of life of elderly people in the collection of research data. One way analysis of variance and t - test for the independent groups were used in the evaluation of the data. According to average scores of the "Oxford Happiness Scale" of the elderly participating people in the survey; there was no significant difference between patient group 121.4 ± 25.29, relatives of patient group 129.0 ± 21.95 and nursing home group 128.3 ± 20.48 (p = 0.383). In addition, results of the "Quality of Life Elderly Module" which applied to the research groups, can be grouped as; sensory functions (8.3 ± 2.69), self-determination (16.0 ± 3.20), past, present and future activities (14.6 ± 2.94), social participation (12.6 ± 3.71), die and death (13.3 ± 5.03), and relationship (15.0 ± 3.63). The results of relatives of patient group were; sensory functions; (7.5 ± 1.45), self-determination (15.8 ± 2.44), past, present and future activities (13.8 ± 2.65), social participation (13.2 ± 2.87) dying and death (12.8 ± 3.98), and relationship (14.7 ± 3.08). Finally the results of the nursing home group were; sensory functions; (8.0±1.78), self-determination (17.1±3.10), social participation (13.3 ± 3.83), past, present and future activities (14.4 ± 4.13), dying and death (10.7 ± 5.05), and relationship (14.1 ± 4.03). As a result of all of these analysis, there was no significant relationship between these research groups.