Abstract
The proportion of older people in Ireland is set to increase dramatically in the
future. This study investigated the role that social activity plays in the quality of life of
older people from the perspective of health and social care workers. A qualitative
thematic analysis was carried on the data gathered from tape recorded semi structured
interviews of 6 HSE care workers. Among the themes highlighted in the results were
Social Interaction, Isolation, Health, Access, Family and Community and Individual
Needs. The results showed that social activity is central for older people’s quality of life
and that social isolation was damaging to it. Areas for improvement were discussed as
well as limitations of the research. The research adds to the body of knowledge on older
people’s quality of life. Author keywords: Older people, quality of life, social activity
