Gretchen Good

Citation

Thesis Title
Ageing and Visual Impairment: Activity, Independence and Life Satisfaction.

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Dr Good examined activity, independence and life satisfaction of older adults living in the Manawatu. Registered members of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind and a random selection of registered voters participated. Results indicated that both age and vision impairment had significant effects on activity and independence. Unique findings were that social comparisons of activity and satisfaction with social support contributed more to overall life satisfaction than did activity and independence levels. Unexpectedly, the oldest age cohort of those with impaired vision reported a higher level of overall life satisfaction than did their sighted peers in the oldest age cohort or younger cohorts with impaired vision. Results enable a better understanding of daily life for older people, and the differences, which can be attributed to vision impairment. Older people and those that provide rehabilitation services can use this information to set more realistic and appropriate goals for rehabilitation

Supervisors
Professor Steven Lagrow
Professor Fiona Alpass