ABSTRACT
Quality of life' is defined as the degree of gratification perceived from one's contextual experience, including composite satisfaction with physical, emotional, social and spiritual environmental conditions. Quality of life is an important issue among older persons in the United States. While the total number of older individuals in long-term nursing homes increases, a survey of persons over the age of 60 reflects the national attitude that older individuals prefer to have paid caregivers or relatives assist them to remain in their own homes. The three types of typical housing contexts for the elderly were personal dwelling, specialized housing, and nursing home. Housing provides access to different levels of social support and contact. Theoretical conceptions of person-environment congruence state that behavior and degree of experienced stress are a function of the congruence between how well personal needs are met by environmental resources and the degree of personal competence supported within a given environment.
