Resumen de A Retrospective Study about Institutionalized Elderly Life Conditions in Three Social Care Centers
Costinela Georgescu, Carmen Daniela Domnariu, Valeriu Ardeleanu, Cristian-Catalin Gavat
A retrospective study was made on 195 institutionalized elderly people and was carried out between 2002-2006 in three social care centers from Galati county: “Sf. Spiridon” retirement home (A), “Stefan cel Mare” social care center (B) and Medicalsocial center (C). The aim of this study is to find out the real social life conditions of institutionalized elderly, the shortcomings and positive aspects of their existence, in order to design future measures to improve quality of elderly life in all aspects. Actual quality of life was assessed by, taking into account physical and psychosocial environment, quality of elderly social care, satisfaction degree of assisted persons in relation to living conditions and existing relationships, their health state, as well as to identify the causes that led institutionalization of such persons As working tools were used: individual questionnaire, training manual, sampling lists, summary tables. The study undertaken in Romania confirmed that elderly coming from “Sf. Spiridon “retirement home have the highest average age (up to 75 years old). Loneliness was the main reason which caused elderly admission for institutionalization in three nursing homes (49.6% among the elderly in the Sf. Spiridon retirement home (A), 43.2% for those from “Stefan cel Mare” social care center (B) and 38.1% of the elderly from Medical-social center (C). Other important reasons were represented by lack of housing and insufficient storage house space. The highest elderly percentage who came into social care centers A, B, C on their self will is 85.3%, 64.9% and 45.2%, respectively.
