[Purpose] This study examined the quality of life (QOL) of homebound elderly hemiparetic stroke patients and factors that affect it. [Subjects] The subjects of the study were 21 homebound elderly hemiparetic stroke patients who were 65 years old or over and required care for daily living (12 males and 9 females, average age: 79.3 ± 8.4 years old). Their physical and psychological conditions, QOL, and other characteristics were researched. [Methods] The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was used for the activities of daily living (ADL) assessment, and the MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36, Japanese version 1.2) was used for the QOL assessment. [Results] No correlations were observed between the QOL of homebound elderly hemiparetic stroke patients and their age and gender. However, the results showed that their QOL was affected by their independence in ADL, bedridden degree, and care-need level. [Conclusion] These results suggest that in order to improve the QOL of homebound elderly hemiparetic stroke patients, ongoing rehabilitation to improve independence in ADL and lower the bedridden degree and care-need level is required.

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Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors affecting the burden of family caregivers of home-bound disabled elderly persons.[Subjects] Data were collected for 66 home-bound disabled elderly persons (mean age of 81.4 ± 9.7) and their 66 family caregivers (mean age of 62.4 ± 11. 5) who were living at home in Kobe city, Hyogo.[Method] Capacity to perform ADL was assessed using the Barthel Index for the home-bound disabled elderly persons. The care burden and health status of their family caregivers were also evaluated. [Results] There was no significant correlation between ADL, the grade of care required for home-bound disabled elderly persons and family caregivers' burden. It was also revealed that the family caregivers' burdens were determined by their state of depression.[Conclusion] These results suggest that social and psychological supports are necessary to reduce the burden of family caregivers.

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the health-related and subjective quality of life of community-dwelling elderly females in orthopedic outpatients, and also examined how such quality of life correlate with their daily life activities and instrumental activities of daily living. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects were 27 community-dwelling elderly females in orthopedic outpatients (mean age: 76.3 ± 7.4 years). Their health-related quality of life and subjective quality of life, life-space assessment, frenchay activities index were researched. [Results] For the relationships between the total subjective quality of life scores and health-related quality of life scores, significant positive correlations were observed for body pain, general health, vitality, social functions and mental health. The correlations were not statistically significant between the subjective quality of life scores and the life-space assessment and frenchay activities index scores. The correlations were statistically significant between some health-related quality of life scores and the life-space assessment and frenchay activities index scores. [Conclusion] The results suggest that supporting community-dwelling elderly females in orthopedic outpatients to improve their sense of physical and mental well-being, and prevent and reduce their depression and physical pain, is required in order to improve their QOL.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the severity and the persistence of low back pain (LBP) in care workers and its influence on their health-related quality of life (QOL).[Subjects] The subjects were one hundred and fifty eight female care workers who worked for three health care service facilities for the aged in Japan.[Methods] The investigation was carried out by questionnaire survey. Subjects were asked if they had LBP at the time of the survey. If they had LBP subjects were further asked to describe how long their LBP had lasted. We evaluated the degree of LBP and the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess health-related QOL.[Results] The participants were classified into two groups: a H-LBP group that reported a high degree of LBP and an L-LBP group that reported a low degree of LBP. In addition, the participants who had LBP at the time of survey were classified into two groups: an Acute group in which LBP had continued for less than 3 months and a Chronic group in which LBP had continued for more than 3 months. The scores for all dimensions of SF-36 in the L-LBP group were significantly lower than in the H-LBP group. The Chronic group had a significantly higher degree of LBP and lower "Bodily Pain" than the Acute group. [Conclusion] It is clear that the presence or the severity of workers' LBP influenced not only their pain and physical functions but also their social and psychological QOL .