Mobility is an undeniable issue for current and future elderly populations. The increasing popularity for retirees to live in rural communities makes this a particularly important issue in rural towns. When an elderly individual living in a rural community is no longer able to drive, issues that come with living in a rural area may be exacerbated, and the individual may experience a decrease in their quality of life. Although individuals may be able to use public transportation most existing options do not promote an independent lifestyle. Any updated rural transportation system benefiting the elderly would be funded by taxpayers. An understanding of the taxpayers' preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for transportation options, therefore, is essential. Few, if any economic studies have addressed this issue. The objectives of this research are to: (1) estimate economic willingness-to-pay (WTP) for public transportation options by using choice modeling techniques; and (2) better understand opinions related to public transportation for the elderly held by the general population as a whole and within different demographics. To complete these objectives, a choice survey was distributed to samples of three populations: residents of Atascosa County (located in south Texas); residents of Polk County (located in east Texas); and students at Texas A&M University. Respondents were presented with transportation options made of five attributes: addition to annual vehicle registration fee, days of operation, hours of operation, type of route, and senior citizen transportation fare discount. Results show both students and the general public value public transportation options and are willing to pay for specific transportation attributes. Respondents tended to prefer options which are more flexible than the less flexible attribute presented to them; however, respondents did not necessarily prefer the most flexible options. Students, generally, are willing to pay more for transportation attributes than county residents. Overall, both Atascosa and Polk County residents have similar WTP's, indicating both populations value rural public transportation similarly. The effects of socio-demographic variables on residents' decision to choose a transportation option appear to differ between the counties. These findings imply that while the influence of transportation attribute levels are consistent across counties, local input is important in customizing transportation systems to meet local expectations.

<p>The group of elderly people in Sweden will increase significantly in the future and science point out that the future elderly people will not accept today’s standards and offers of assistance in today’s public elderly care. Therefore public elderly care stands before a significant challenge in terms of development that has to be sustainable. New research also points out that middle managers can be a great strategic resource, and a founder of success, in the challenge of sustainable development. The aim of the report was to increase the knowledge about what middle managers in public elderly care think sustainable development has to embrace, when it comes to quality and personnel administration, in order to meet the needs of the future elderly people. The aim was also to deepen the knowledge of how formal and informal organizational factors facilitate or limit middle managers possibilities to work with development in general and sustainable development in specific in their units. Interviews, as a qualitative method, were used to gather empirical data and the result was analyzed with theories as Domain theory, New Public Management and Situational leadership. Our findings showed that middle managers have little possibilities to work with sustainable development in their units and that formal factors as budget had a great impact of the middle managers overall possibilities in their work. According to the result it seemed that development and long term planning in this particular organization were tasks mainly for the management and political domain. According to our findings it seemed as if the introduction of New Public Management increased the underlying initial problems of human service organizations. According to Domain theory these problems consists of disjunction, discordance and conflicts due to the differences between the three domains when it comes to principles, success measures, structure and work modes.</p>

Studien ämnade söka förståelse och kunskap om biståndshandläggarnas yrkesroll inom äldreomsorgen. Utifrån detta fördjupade vi oss i de svårigheter som kan uppstå under handläggningsprocessen och vilka stödresurser som finns tillgängliga. Vi har använt oss av en kvalitativ forskningsansats med hjälp av sex semistrukturerade intervjuer med biståndshandläggare som arbetar inom äldreomsorg i olika kommuner i Stockholms län. Resultatet analyserades utifrån teoretiska referensramar som belyser olika typer av dilemman på både individuellt och strukturellt plan. Dessa teorier var Lipskys teori om Gräsrotsbyråkrati, konsekvensetik, dygdetik samt begreppen äkta dilemman och skendilemman.  Studien kom fram till att det finns ett flertal svårigheter som biståndshandläggare möter i arbetsvardagen. Vidare framkom att biståndshandläggarna upplever att de är alltför styrda av riktlinjer och lagar vilket minskar deras inflytande. Studien bekräftar tidigare forsknings resultat inom området. / The study aimed to seek understanding and knowledge about care managers professional role in elderly care. Whit that basis we went in-depth of the difficulties that can occur during the process of care managing and what kind of support resources that are available. We used qualitative research approach and performed six semi structured interviews with care managers in the elderly care in different municipalities in the county of Stockholm. The result was analyzed with the basis of theoretical reference frames that illustrate different kinds of dilemmas on both an individual and a structural level. The theories we used were Lipskys theory about street level bureaucrats, consequence ethics, virtue ethics and the concept of real dilemmas and deceptive dilemmas. The study shows that there are a number of difficulties that care managers face in their everyday work environment. Furthermore it emerged that care managers experience that they are too controlled by guidelines and laws which would therefore diminish their influence. The study is verifying of earlier research made in the same field.

Denna studie syftar till att öka förståelsen för hur övergrepp mot äldre i nära relationer kan se ut, skillnader mellan könen och skillnader mellan yngre respektive äldre, samt att diskutera möjliga åtgärder inom området. Svensk forskning har visat att 16 % av kvinnorna och 13 % av männen efter sin 65-årsdag har utsatts för någon form av övergrepp. Det är således ett viktigt ämne. Kvalitativ metod och induktiv ansats utgjorde de övergripande metoderna. Med hjälp av litteratur och informanters kunskap har problemområdet utforskats. I huvudsak svensk, men i viss grad, nordisk litteratur användes. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med tre informanter och tre studier utforskades. Genom dessa genererades resultatet som sammanställdes och analyserades med hjälp av tidigare forskning och teorierna socialkonstruktionism och ålderism. Studien begränsades genom att svensk forskning i huvudsak användes. Anledningen till detta var att studien syftade till att undersöka svenska förhållanden. De övergrepp äldre utsätts för av vård- och omsorgspersonal och de övergrepp äldre utsätter varandra för på särskilda boenden inkluderades inte. Jag valde att titta både äldre mäns och äldre kvinnors utsatthet för övergrepp. Några av slutsatserna var att äldre kvinnor i högre utsträckning än män utsätts för övergrepp i nära relationer och att förövaren oftast är en man. Inom parrelationer var skillnaden mellan könens utsatthet för övergrepp marginell. Genusperspektiv saknas ofta när ämnet diskuteras. Ytterligare en slutsats som drogs var att avsaknad av forskning och statistik inom ämnet utgör ett stort problem.

A população brasileira é cada vez mais idosa. Além disso, as perspectivas demográficas apontam para um envelhecimento cada vez mais acentuado da população, com possibilidades reais de sermos um país com uma massa populacional idosa maior do que a ativa em algumas décadas. Sendo o país constituído por um contingente populacional idoso, é mais que compreensível que mudanças na forma de compreender o significado de ser velho e do envelhecer comecem a aparecer e a exigir maiores níveis de reflexão. Para tanto, comprometemo-nos a realizar uma reflexão teológico-filosófica a partir da realidade da pessoa idosa por meio do conceito do cuidado. Tal conceito tomaremos da obra de Martin Heidegger e de Leonardo Boff que o transferem para o âmbito do saber como competência ético-social e que toma a própria criação como outridade. O presente trabalho é organizado em três capítulos, sendo o primeiro dedicado ao tema da pessoa idosa e do processo de envelhecer; o segundo relativo ao conceito do cuidado nas obras de Heidegger, Boff e Michel Foucault; cabendo ao terceiro capítulo uma leitura teológicocurativa do Estatuto do Idoso. / The Brazilian population is increasingly older. Besides this, the demographic perspectives point to an increasingly accentuated aging of the population with real possibilities of becoming a country with an elderly population mass greater than the active one in some decades. Since the country is constituted by an elderly population contingency it is quite comprehensible that changes in the way of understanding the significance of being old and of aging begin to appear and demand greater levels of reflection. For this, we committed ourselves to carry out a philosophical-theological reflection based on the reality of the elderly person through the concept of care. We take such a concept from the work of Martin Heidegger and from Leonardo Boff who transfer it to the realm of knowledge as an ethical-social competency and assume creation itself as otherness. This work is organized in three chapters, the first being dedicated to the theme of the elderly person and the process of aging; the second is related to the concept of care in the works of Heidegger, Boff and Michel Foucault; and the third deals with a theological-curative reading of the Statute of the Elderly.

The purpose of the study is to describe and analyze how different professions in elderly care perceive the need for change and how they respond to challenges the elderly care is facing with an increasing heterogeneous generation of elderly in need of care. Further the study wants to describe and analyze differences between the professions perception of needs for change. Through this the study can contribute to increase knowledge in the area of an increasing heterogeneous generation of elderly people and its response to the needs of care. The empirical material has been collected through five semi-structured qualitative interviews where different employee positions in elderly care have been represented. One focus group has also been conducted. The empirical material from these interviews has thereafter been analyzed through the concept of salutogenic approach, forty talists and the third age. The result and conclusions shows that there are similar opinions about the importance of the quality of healthcare in the elderly care. The different employes work with the specific needs of the elderly in different ways and have overall similar goals. The results and conclusions confirm how communication lacks differently in the cooperation with each other. The employes believe that their interaction and cooperation with each other is important for the prospective work with future elderly care.

Submitted by Alison Vanceto (alison-vanceto@hotmail.com) on 2017-01-26T10:57:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJBT.pdf: 4318911 bytes, checksum: 7af25876cc9cafba37f2c803f700338d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Camila Passos (camilapassos@ufscar.br) on 2017-02-08T12:02:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJBT.pdf: 4318911 bytes, checksum: 7af25876cc9cafba37f2c803f700338d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Camila Passos (camilapassos@ufscar.br) on 2017-02-08T12:04:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJBT.pdf: 4318911 bytes, checksum: 7af25876cc9cafba37f2c803f700338d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-08T12:04:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJBT.pdf: 4318911 bytes, checksum: 7af25876cc9cafba37f2c803f700338d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-24 / Não recebi financiamento / As the aging of the population becomes a reality, it is necessary to rethink the cities to offer accessibility to all its individuals, having or not some restriction of mobility themselves. Accessibility must transcend the interior of buildings and permeate all its surroundings and the urban environment. Make the city accessible is a challenge, and this becomes even bigger when the focus is the elderly population. It must be changed the way of thinking cities, as the range of the population over 60’s that live alone is increasing, and ensuring them accessibility and mobility is a duty of the government. This study is meant to examine the accessibility and mobility of residents of a housing project for the elderly in the city of Araraquara, SP, using as reference the Brazilian Standard NBR 9050, 2015. This analysis includes the views of residents and the responsible administrative agent on the issue, as well as the use of technical parameters of ISO 9050, for the elaboration of a check list to ascertain whether the place has the necessary accessibility for this vulnerable group. The methodology consists in applying the tools MMSE test-Mini Mental State Examination, conversation circles, as well as relevant parameters of the standard NBR 9050. Initially the results pointed to a very positive perception by the elderly, although some accessibility parameters have not been included in the construction of houses and residential facilities. Furthermore, it was found very low mobility of older people when they need to perform their daily tasks, making possible by the use of transport modes on foot and by public transport by bus. Improve accessibility both internally and in mobility for the surrounding of the residence location, would be some of the possible solutions to increase security and ensure autonomy, fostered by increased mobility. / Com o envelhecimento acentuado da população, se faz necessário repensar as cidades de modo a oferecer acessibilidade a todos seus cidadãos, possuindo ou não alguma restrição de mobilidade. A acessibilidade deve transcender o interior das construções e permear todo seu entorno e o ambiente urbano. Tornar a cidade acessível é um desafio, e este se faz maior quando o foco é a população idosa. Deve-se mudar a maneira de pensar as cidades, pois a faixa da população acima de 60 anos que mora sozinha está aumentando e garantir a eles a acessibilidade e a mobilidade é um dever do Poder Público. Este estudo tem por objetivo principal analisar a acessibilidade e mobilidade de moradores de um núcleo habitacional para idosos do município de Araraquara, tomando como referência a NBR 9050, de 2015. Esta análise conta com a visão dos moradores acerca do assunto, do agente administrativo responsável, assim como o uso de parâmetros técnicos da NBR 9050, para a formação de um check list para averiguar se o local possui a acessibilidade necessária a este grupo vulnerável. A metodologia consta em aplicar as ferramentas teste MEEM-Mini Exame do Estado Mental, a Roda de Conversa, bem como parâmetros pertinentes da Norma 9050. Os resultados apontaram inicialmente, uma percepção positiva pelos idosos, apesar de alguns parâmetros de acessibilidade não terem sido contemplados na construção das casas e equipamentos do Residencial. Constatou-se também, mobilidade bastante reduzida dos idosos quando precisam realizar suas tarefas do cotidiano, possibilitada pelo uso dos modos de transportes a pé e por transporte coletivo. Melhorar a acessibilidade tanto interna, quanto a mobilidade para o entorno do Residencial, seriam formas de aumentar a segurança e assegurar autonomia propiciada pela maior mobilidade.

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-04-03T19:31:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJBT.pdf: 4318911 bytes, checksum: 7af25876cc9cafba37f2c803f700338d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-04-18T18:35:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJBT.pdf: 4318911 bytes, checksum: 7af25876cc9cafba37f2c803f700338d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-04-18T18:35:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJBT.pdf: 4318911 bytes, checksum: 7af25876cc9cafba37f2c803f700338d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-18T19:41:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJBT.pdf: 4318911 bytes, checksum: 7af25876cc9cafba37f2c803f700338d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-24 / Não recebi financiamento / As the aging of the population becomes a reality, it is necessary to rethink the cities to offer accessibility to all its individuals, having or not some restriction of mobility themselves. Accessibility must transcend the interior of buildings and permeate all its surroundings and the urban environment. Make the city accessible is a challenge, and this becomes even bigger when the focus is the elderly population. It must be changed the way of thinking cities, as the range of the population over 60’s that live alone is increasing, and ensuring them accessibility and mobility is a duty of the government. This study is meant to examine the accessibility and mobility of residents of a housing project for the elderly in the city of Araraquara, SP, using as reference the Brazilian Standard NBR 9050, 2015. This analysis includes the views of residents and the responsible administrative agent on the issue, as well as the use of technical parameters of ISO 9050, for the elaboration of a check list to ascertain whether the place has the necessary accessibility for this vulnerable group. The methodology consists in applying the tools MMSE test-Mini Mental State Examination, conversation circles, as well as relevant parameters of the standard NBR 9050. Initially the results pointed to a very positive perception by the elderly, although some accessibility parameters have not been included in the construction of houses and residential facilities. Furthermore, it was found very low mobility of older people when they need to perform their daily tasks, making possible by the use of transport modes on foot and by public transport by bus. Improve accessibility both internally and in mobility for the surrounding of the residence location, would be some of the possible solutions to increase security and ensure autonomy, fostered by increased mobility. / Com o envelhecimento acentuado da população, se faz necessário repensar as cidades de modo a oferecer acessibilidade a todos seus cidadãos, possuindo ou não alguma restrição de mobilidade. A acessibilidade deve transcender o interior das construções e permear todo seu entorno e o ambiente urbano. Tornar a cidade acessível é um desafio, e este se faz maior quando o foco é a população idosa. Deve-se mudar a maneira de pensar as cidades, pois a faixa da população acima de 60 anos que mora sozinha está aumentando e garantir a eles a acessibilidade e a mobilidade é um dever do Poder Público. Este estudo tem por objetivo principal analisar a acessibilidade e mobilidade de moradores de um núcleo habitacional para idosos do município de Araraquara, tomando como referência a NBR 9050, de 2015. Esta análise conta com a visão dos moradores acerca do assunto, do agente administrativo responsável, assim como o uso de parâmetros técnicos da NBR 9050, para a formação de um check list para averiguar se o local possui a acessibilidade necessária a este grupo vulnerável. A metodologia consta em aplicar as ferramentas teste MEEM-Mini Exame do Estado Mental, a Roda de Conversa, bem como parâmetros pertinentes da Norma 9050. Os resultados apontaram inicialmente, uma percepção positiva pelos idosos, apesar de alguns parâmetros de acessibilidade não terem sido contemplados na construção das casas e equipamentos do Residencial. Constatou-se também, mobilidade bastante reduzida dos idosos quando precisam realizar suas tarefas do cotidiano, possibilitada pelo uso dos modos de transportes a pé e por transporte coletivo. Melhorar a acessibilidade tanto interna, quanto a mobilidade para o entorno do Residencial, seriam formas de aumentar a segurança e assegurar autonomia propiciada pela maior mobilidade.

Orientadora: Anita Liberalesso Neri / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T20:33:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Costa_TaiguaraBertelli_M.pdf: 1369321 bytes, checksum: 78945da5e1a216c11d3b1a5b9212e966 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Existe consenso quanto a importância da atividade física para a promoção da saúde dos idosos, mas ha controvérsias a respeito dos métodos para avaliá-la, assim como ha dificuldades para discriminar entre os efeitos de variáveis de saúde e de variáveis comportamentais sobre sua pratica. Objetivo: Investigar relações entre fragilidade indicada por perda de peso, fadiga, baixa forca de preensão, lentidão da marcha e comorbidades, e níveis de atividade física avaliados por dois diferentes critérios, em idosos recrutados na comunidade, agrupados por gênero, idade e nível de renda familiar. Métodos: Participaram 689 idosos selecionados por desempenho superior a nota de corte no Mini-Exame do Estado Mental, de amostra de 900 idosos recrutados em domicilio, em setores censitários urbanos de Campinas sorteados ao acaso. A media de idade foi 72,28 + 5,40 e a renda mensal media de 4,72 salários mínimos + 5,27; 68,21% eram mulheres. Os níveis de atividade física foram aferidos por meio de versão adaptada do Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Perda de peso não intencional nos últimos 12 meses, exaustão e doenças crônicas diagnosticadas por medico, foram avaliadas por autorrelato. Forca de preensão manual em Kgs/forca correspondeu a media de três tentativas com dinamômetro Jamar, na mão dominante. Velocidade de marcha foi indicada pelo tempo médio gasto para percorrer 4,6 metros (três tentativas). O nível de atividade física foi indicado por dois critérios: pratica semanal regular e acumulada de 150 min. de exercícios físicos moderados ou de 120 min. de exercícios físicos vigorosos e taxa semanal de gasto calórico superior ao primeiro quintil da distribuição dos valores obtidos pela pratica de exercícios físicos e de atividades domesticas, ajustados por peso e por sexo. Pontuaram para fragilidade os idosos que perderam pelo menos 4,5 kg ou 5% do peso corporal; que responderam sempre ou quase sempre a qualquer um de dois itens escalares sobre fadiga; que pontuaram abaixo do 1º quintil no teste de preensão e acima do percentil 80 no teste de marcha, e que relataram ter pelo menos 3 doenças crônicas. Resultados: a prevalência de idosos que perderam peso foi 15,09%; dos que apresentaram fadiga, 17,13%; baixa forca de preensão, 16,96%; lentidão de marcha, 15,87%, e 3 ou mais doenças crônicas, 43,02%. A freqüência de ativos pelo critério de gasto calórico foi de 83,55%; pelo critério de regularidade da pratica de exercícios físicos, 45,27%. Houve associações positivas entre baixo nível de gasto calórico e baixa forca de preensão, lentidão de marcha e idade avançada; entre sedentarismo quanto a pratica de exercícios físicos e comorbidades. Conclusões: As diferentes relações encontradas entre os dois tipos de medida de atividade física e os indicadores de fragilidade podem ser atribuídas a questões metodológicas, a condições de saúde e a influencia de atitudes, valores e motivações sobre a adesão de homens e mulheres idosos a pratica de exercícios físicos e ao desempenho de atividades domesticas. Políticas publicas de incentivo a pratica regular de exercícios físicos e de atividades produtivas em casa, por idosos, devem levar em conta questões comportamentais e culturais, de modo especial quando o alvo for a população com menor renda e com saúde mais precária / Abstract: There is consensus on the importance of physical activity for health promotion for older people, but there is controversy about the methods to evaluate it, just as there are difficulties to discriminate between the effects of health variables and and behavioral variables on your practice. Objective: Examining relationships between frailty indicated by weight loss, fatigue, low grip strength, slow gait and comorbidities, and physical activity levels assessed by two different criteria, recruited in the elderly in the community, grouped by gender, age and income level familiar. Methods: 689 subjects selected for performance above the cutoff score on the Mini-Mental State Examination, a sample of 900 elderly people recruited from home in urban census tracts of Campinas drawn at random. The average age was 72.28 + 5.40 and the average monthly income of 4.72 minimum wages + 5.27; 68.21% were women. The physical activity levels were measured by the adapted version of the "Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire". Unintentional weight loss over the past 12 months, depletion and chronic diseases diagnosed by a physician, were assessed by self-reported. Handgrip strength in kgs/force corresponded to the average of three attempts with Jamar dynamometer in the dominant hand. Gait speed was indicated by the average time spent to travel 4.6 meters (three attempts). The level of physical activity was indicated by two criteria: regular weekly practice and accumulated 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 120 minutes of vigorous physical exercise and weekly rate of caloric expenditure above the first quintile of the distribution of values obtained by exercise physical and domestic activities, adjusted for weight and sex. Scored for fragile elderly people who have lost at least 4.5 kg or 5% of body weight; respondents always or almost always either of two scale items on fatigue, which scored below the first quintile of the test and hold above the percentile 80 in the test running, and who reported having at least three chronic diseases. Results: The prevalence of elderly people who lost weight was 15,09% of those with fatigue, 17.13%, low grip strength, 16.96%, slow gait, 15.87%, and three or more chronic diseases, 43.02%. The frequency of assets by the criterion of calorie expenditure was 83.55% by the criterion of regular physical exercise, 45.27%. There were positive associations between low caloric and low grip strength, slow gait and age, as between a sedentary lifestyle with exercise and physical comorbidities. Conclusions: The different relationships observed between the two types of measurement of physical activity and indicators of frailty can be attributed to methodological issues, the health conditions and the influence of attitudes, values and motivations on the accession of elderly men and women to practice physical exercise and performance of household chores. Public policies to encourage regular exercise and physical productive activities at home for the elderly, should take into account cultural and behavioral issues, especially when the target is people with lower income and poorer health / Mestrado / Mestre em Gerontologia

Avaliar a qualidade de vida vem assumindo importância cada vez mais relevante nos últimos anos, particularmente no que diz respeito a sua mensuração, quer individual quer coletivamente. Quando constatamos que a população idosa no mundo está aumentando significativamente, assim como as políticas públicas internacionais construídas para atender às necessidades de saúde dessa população, fica evidente a importância de se realizarem estudos sobre a saúde e a qualidade de vida dos idosos, que envolvam diferentes países e, mais ainda, do ponto de vista deles próprios. Nesse contexto, esta investigação teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar a qualidade de vida dos idosos brasileiros e portugueses. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, exploratório, descritivo, comparativo e com delineamento transversal, em dois diferentes cenários: o município de Marília (Brasil) e o município do Porto (Portugal). Foram sujeitos deste estudo 349 idosos brasileiros e 100 idosos portugueses, usuários do serviço público de atenção básica, com autonomia física e psicológica e com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevistas, com os instrumentos de qualidade de vida denominados WHOQOL-BREF e WHOQOL-OLD da Organização Mundial da Saúde. A qualidade de vida geral, medida pelo WHOQOL-BREF, mostrou-nos que o escore médio dos idosos do Brasil foi 63,32 e dos idosos de Portugal foi 51,13. As médias dos escores melhor avaliados por domínios e por ordem crescente, no Brasil e em Portugal, respectivamente, foram: Brasil: meio ambiente (56,30), físico (63,46), psicológico (66,07) e relações sociais (66,52). Portugal: físico (47,71), psicológico (57,13), meio ambiente (60,03) e relações sociais (61,17). A qualidade de vida dos idosos brasileiros também foi avaliada por meio do instrumento WHOQOL-OLD e os escores avaliativos por faceta, em ordem crescente foram: autonomia (58,66), participação social (59,68), atividades passadas, presentes e futuras (64,40), intimidade (67,51), funcionamento dos sentidos (73,81) e morte e morrer (75,37). Os idosos, tanto no Brasil quanto em Portugal, avaliaram positivamente a qualidade de vida em todos os domínios e facetas do WHOQOL e as variáveis que mais contribuíram para esta avaliação positiva foram relações pessoais, apoio que recebem dos amigos, ambiente físico onde moram, cuidados de saúde que recebem e o meio de transporte que utilizam. Concluímos que, comparativamente, a qualidade de vida foi mais bem avaliada pelos idosos do Brasil do que pelos idosos de Portugal. Tendo em vista que o WHOQOL é um instrumento cuja avaliação é feita segundo a percepção do participante sobre sua posição na vida, no contexto da cultura e sistemas de valores nos quais vive, ou seja, a partir da sua subjetividade, o fator subjetivo presente nesta avaliação, exige que se considerem os fatores sociais, culturais e econômicos que caracterizam cada população e consequentemente influenciam a percepção sobre a qualidade de vida. Desse modo, as diferenças sociais e demográficas encontradas nesse estudo, entre os idosos do Brasil e Portugal, podem ajudar a compreender as diferentes avaliações de qualidade de vida. Entende-se que o intercâmbio de conhecimento e de práticas de saúde, desenvolvido em diferentes países e voltado para os idosos, pode contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida dessa população específica. / Assessing the quality of life is becoming an increasingly relevant topic in recent years, particularly with regard to its measurement, both individually and collectively. When it was verified that the elderly population in the world is increasing significantly as well as international public policies built to meet the health needs of this population, it became evident the importance of further studies on the health and life quality of the elderly, involving different countries and, more, from their own standpoint. In this context, this investigation aimed to evaluate and compare the quality of life of Brazilian and Portuguese elderly people. This is a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, comparative and cross-sectional study, in two different scenarios: the city of Marília (Brazil) and the city of Porto (Portugal). Study participants were 349 Brazilian elderly people and 100 Portuguese elderly people, users of basic public service, with physical and psychological autonomy and aged 60 or over 60. Data collection was conducted through interviews, with tools of life quality named WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD from the World Health Organization. The quality of general life, measured by WHOQIL-BREF, showed that the average score of elderly people in Brazil was 63.32 and in Portugal it was 51.13. The average of the best evaluated scores, by fields and in an ascending order, in Brazil and in Portugal was, respectively: Brazil: environment (56.30), physical (63.46), psychological (66.07) and social relations (66.52). Portugal: physical (47.71), psychological (57.13), environment (60.03), and social relations (61.17). Life quality of elderly Brazilian people was also assessed using WHOQOL-OLD and the evaluative scores for facet, in ascending order were: autonomy (58.66), social participation (59.68), past, present and future activities (64.40), intimacy (67.51), functioning of senses (73.81) and death and dying (75.37). The elderly, both in Brazil and in Portugal, evaluated positively the life quality in all areas and facets of WHOQOL and the variables that contributed most to this positive assessment were personal relations, support from friends, physical environment where they live, health care they receive, and means of transportation they use. It was concluded that, in comparison, life quality was better assessed by the elderly in Brazil than by the elderly in Portugal. Considering that WHOQOL is a tool whose evaluation is done according to participants perception on their position in life, on the context of culture, and on the lived value systems, that is, from its subjectivity, the subjective factor present in this evaluation requires consideration of social, cultural and economic factors that characterize each population and consequently influence the perception of life quality. Thus, the social and demographic differences found in this study, between the elderly in Brazil and in Portugal, can help to understand the different assessments of life quality. It is understood that the exchange of knowledge and health practices, developed in different countries and aimed at the elderly, can contribute to improving quality of life in this specific population.