Factors Determining Quality of Life of Elderly People in Rural Nepal

Introduction: Quality of Life (QOL) of elderly people is an important issue with respect to the increasing proportion of elderly population in Nepal. Objective: The study aimed to examine the factors determining QOL of Nepali elderly in rural Nepal. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in 2017 in Kailali district, far west province of Nepal. Total sample size for this study was 547. World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) instruments were used to assess elderly people’s quality of life. Results: This study exhibited that physical health problem of elderly people play vital role in determining their QOL. There is strong negative relationship (-0.505) between physical health problem and overall QOL index of elderly people which indicates reducing physical health problem of elderly leading to significant improvement in their QOL. Physical health problem independently contribute 24.6 percent towards overall QOL as well as contribution with other variables like stress in life and involvement in social activities contribute 36.7 percent. Conclusion: It implies policy implication of giving equal attention in strengthening our health and health care system to care physical and psychological health care needs of elderly people.