Quality of life and physical activity among older adults living in institutions compared to the community.

This was a cross-sectional study, so it cannot show that living in the community caused higher quality of life or more activity. All data came from self-reported questionnaires, so recall bias is possible. The community group included no male participants, so the results may not apply to men. People with mental disability or cognitive impairment were excluded, so the findings do not cover older adults with dementia or other mental illness. The post hoc power was 60%, so smaller differences could have been missed. Only four community luncheon gatherings and all three old age homes in Soweto were used, so the sample may not represent other settings. The RAND 36 has been used in South Africa, but its validity and reliability in this context were not explored in the supplied text.

The supplied text does not report a conflict of interest or funding declaration. The Department of Social Development provided the list of old age homes and luncheon gatherings and funds these projects.

Do not read the difference as proof that community living causes better quality of life. The study measured two groups at one time and did not assign people to living arrangements. It also excluded people with mental disability and had no male community participants.