Meanings of a Good Old Age: Quality of Life of Older Adults who Receive Home and Community Based Services

Drawing on a sample of qualitative interviews from a study of low income, disabled California older adults, this paper examines how community dwelling older adults who receive home and community based services (HCBS) define a “good old age.” In much of the prevailing literature, a good quality of life has been tied to positive health outcomes, however the data collected for this research suggests that health outcomes may not be the only determinant of a good old age. Data were collected on older adults (age 65 and over) who utilize long-term in-home care services and supports and suffer from a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. In-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the older adult. Utilizing grounded theory, data were independently coded by at least two researchers. The results of thematic analyses suggest that older adults did not necessarily define good old age in the context of health outcomes. Instead, a good old age was defined in the context of independent living and social networks and the public programs that make it possible for older adults to live on their own.