Perceived quality of life among elderly people belonging to a senior citizens' centre in the municipality of Lo Barnechea during the pandemic, 2022–2023

Abstract

Objective: To identify the major risk and protective factors that affected and continue to affect the perceived health of older adults in the municipality of Lo Barnechea during the pandemic period and up to the present. Method: Data were obtained through surveys based on a set of open-ended questions asked by researchers about perceived quality of life, with questions related to specific risk and protective factors: high blood pressure, type II diabetes mellitus, technologies and support networks, in order to reveal similarities and differences between perceptions of quality of life and age, demographic and socioeconomic groups among the older adults surveyed. Results: The results showed that a large proportion of respondents perceived their quality of life to be better than the previous year (44%). It was observed that the majority reported having some form of support network (92.2%). 78.6% of participants did not have complete and independent mastery of technologies, and the majority of respondents had some type of chronic disease (79.61%). Discussion: The results obtained were compared with the literature search, emphasising the research objectives. Conclusion: It was determined that the objectives set were achieved through a literature search and the application of a survey, identifying protective and risk factors during lockdown.