ACCESS TO THE SERVICE SYSTEM AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER PEOPLE

Abstract

This research was aimed to understand the relationship among the availability, utilization of services and the quality of life of a group of elderly people. The adopted methodology was a mixed-method approach with a convergent or data triangulation design. The sample consisted of 106 individuals over 60 years old, residing in the Eastern region of the province of Mendoza. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, the WHOQoL questionnaire to assess quality of life, and Ad Hoc instrument of Cognitive Maps to evaluate availability and utilization of services. A secondary data source was the Quality of Life Index developed by CONICET. Among the most important results, it was found that the utilization of services predicts self-perceived quality of life better than other variables reported in previous research, such as gender, age, or health status. The types of services that contribute the most to the quality of life of the individuals are commercial and physical-recreational services, as confirmed by the participants. Lastly, it is worth noting that physical-recreational services are mostly provided by the state or third-party organizations, which facilitate access for the individuals.