Quality of Life Satisfaction Among Black Women 75 Years and Older

Abstract

Despite the existence of a Black middle class in the United States (U.S.) for at least 100 years, scant research has been conducted on the Black elderly that has not been concerned with the level of their poverty or the incidence of morbidity and mortality among them. This study examined the living conditions and analyzed the determinants of quality of life satisfaction among 59 Black women 75 years and older. The findings indicate that satisfaction with quality of life is significantly associated with belonging to a family and social support network that includes church, as well as maintaining physical health independence and personal safety. These findings hold implications for the design of social work services to the Black middle income elderly as well for future development of public policy that focuses on providing effective help for older Americans in all their diversity.

Key Words:

• Elderly
• Black
• women
• life quality satisfaction
• public policy
• family
• church
• physical independence
• personal safety