Factors Affecting Quality of Life in Elderly People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to help reduce the fears and anxieties of older people and improve their quality of life by guiding health and social care services and education for older people. Method: The sample of the study consisted of 154 elderly people who voluntarily participated in the study between March and May 2021. Research data were collected online with "personal information form", "fear of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) scale", "coronavirus anxiety scale" and quality of life scale in older people. Results: The mean age of the older people who participated in the study was 71.44 +/- 6.28. The mean coronavirus anxiety scale score of the elderly is 4.39 +/- 4.58, the mean fear of COVID-19 scale score is 21.91 +/- 7.22 and the mean quality of life scale in older people score is 21.25 +/- 7.53. Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that the elderly were afraid of contracting COVID-19 infection, experienced anxiety, and their quality of life was found to be moderate. In addition, age, fear, anxiety and education level were found to be predictors of quality of life in the elderly. Elderly individuals should be provided with physical, emotional, psychological and social support and support health policies should be developed for this.