An Analytical Study on the Quality of Life of Elderly People Living with Family in a Selected Community of Kolkata

Abstract

An analytical mixed-method study explored the quality of life (QoL) of elderly individuals aged 65 years and above who reside with their families in a selected urban community of Kolkata. A total of 40 participants were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through a socio-demographic interview schedule and the modified Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQoL). The tool demonstrated excellent internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = .925 for the Bengali version; α = .929 for the English version). Descriptive analysis showed that 72.5% of participants reported a moderate level of QoL, 17.5% reported good QoL, while 10% reported poor QoL. Inferential statistics revealed a significant association between marital status and QoL (χ² = 4.80, p < .05), whereas variables such as age, gender, education, comorbidity, and financial dependence did not demonstrate significant associations. Domain-wise analysis indicated that psychological and emotional well-being had the highest mean score (58.28%), while leisure activities scored lowest (46.25%). The findings suggest that although living with family supports moderate QoL among older adults, targeted interventions that focus on enhancing leisure participation and independence could further promote well-being. Broader studies with larger, diverse samples are recommended to validate these results