Impact of Psychological Wellbeing and Physical Activity on Life Satisfaction among Elderly in Geriatric Homes

Abstract

Life satisfaction among elderly in geriatric homes is becoming an important issue in a rapidly aging population, Life satisfaction is consider an indicator of well-being among the elderly, and is directly connected with health and mortality. This study aimed to explore the impact of psychological wellbeing and physical activity on life satisfaction among elderly in geriatric homes. A descriptive study using randomly stratified sampling procedure was conducted among140 elderly based on criteria as no cognitive impairment, their Period of staying in geriatric homes above one year and Free from any psychiatric illness in the four Geriatric Homes at Cairo. The data was collected using four tools the first was ;socio demographic data of elderly individual to assess their social state, the second was ;the psychological wellbeing scale, for measuring the affect status among elderly and the third was katz index of independence in activity daily living to assess activity of daily life (ADL) of the elderly, and 13-item LSIZ to measure satisfaction with life. The results indicated that elderly population at geriatric homes was independent in most of their daily activities but need assistance in grooming, and transferring. Also results indicated that mostly of them had low psychological well being, with low positive affect as during the past few weeks they feel particularly excited or interested in something?, and had high negative affects as during the past few weeks they feel so restless that they couldn't sit long in a chair and very lonely or remote from other people. Furthermore, there was positive highly statistically significant relation of the physical activity ,psychological well-being, and with life satisfaction. These results concluded that the psychological well being and physical activity affected on life satisfaction of elderly at nursing homes. So, Counseling interventions program for elderly should be done to enhance their life satisfaction and increase successfully aging