Quality of late life: Relationships among general health, family quality, and self-management

Due to extended longevity, more and more older adults are living longer independently. While every adult may wish to be self-sufficient, various health factors sometimes prevent older adults from leading quality of late life. Older adults’ physical and mental health are frequently associated with their social conditions; those who maintain positive and active social and family relationships tend to remain healthy. The current study, based on an IRB approved survey conducted in the Midwest, older adults’ (N = 109, M age = 75.1 years) perceptions of their own health and quality of late life were examined.  Factors examined include the participants’ self-perceived general health, family and grandchild-grandparent relationship quality, level of self-management, and demographics. It was revealed that 40.4% felt their general health was very good or excellent while 5.5% felt poor or terrible;  42.2% reported that they have no problem manageing every aspect of their daily life while 19.2% needed some types of help or support sometimes or always. In addition, self-perceived general health was significantly associated with family relationship quality and excersise frequency. Women reported significantly higer perceived health and relationship quality than men. In addition, self-reported general health was significantly associated with level of help needed in managing daily life.  Interestingly, age, Body Mass Index, self-efficacy nor self-esteem was assoicated with general health or level of self-management in daily life.  Interpretations and implications of the findings and ways to enhance older adults’ quality of late life such as age, gender and ability appropriate physical activity are discussed.