Resumo

BAYARRE VEA, Héctor D.. Quality of life in the elderly:. Rev. cub. salud pública [online]. 2009, vol.35, n.4, pp. 110-116. ISSN 0864-3466.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0864-34662009000400010.

The study of the quality of life in the elders becomes an essential issue for the continuous improvement of the health status of this population section. In approaching this issue, a number of conceptual, methodological and instrumental problems have been so far identified, which are also challenges for the professionals and researchers in the fields of geriatrics, gerontology and related disciplines both at national and international levels. These elements served as a basis for working out this paper which included the main problems affecting the study of the construct, the instrumental production for their evaluation, and particularly, the preparation of two Cuban-made scales for their use in research, specialized services, in education and at population level in the country. These scales could be also adapted for other similar settings.

Palavras-chave : Quality of life; older age; Cuba.