Quality of life and health in older adults: a bibliographic review

Introduction: population aging is a tangible social reality in the world today and requires greater commitment and the search for alternatives to improve the quality of life of older adults. Objective: to argue the importance of guaranteeing and improving the quality of life of older adults. Methods: a bibliographic review was conducted based on a search in the Redalyc, PubMed and Scopus databases. The search criteria used were: older adult; aging; chronic diseases; disabilities; opportunities. The following inclusion criteria were considered for the selection of articles: original articles, short communications, review articles and systematic reviews, published in English or Spanish, in the period 2016-2023 and that were available in full text. Some articles from previous years were also selected, because due to their importance they were considered within the review. Development: as life expectancy increases, so do the rates of frailty and the prevalence of chronic diseases, aspects that accompany the last stretch of life. Disability caused by a deteriorating state of health is the main cause of dependency situations experienced by the elderly. The worsening of the physiological conditions of the organism, which is typical of the aging process, senescence and the appearance of new pathologies, make it necessary to provide assistance to compensate for the loss of functionality and to allow the person to maintain an acceptable level of quality of life. Conclusions: It is vital to create more opportunities for participation in recreational and cultural activities, as well as to implement programs aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, including physical activity adapted to their specific nutritional needs and abilities