Quality of Life and Depression among Older Adults Living in Old-Age Homes in Bangladesh

Owing to financial hardship and diminishing family support, institutional care for older adults has become increasingly common in Bangladesh. Despite quality of life (QoL) being a major public health concern, evidence on elderly residents of old-age homes (OAHs) remains limited. This study assessed the level of QoL and its associated factors among institutionalized older adults in Bangladesh. A total of 158 valid individuals aged 60 years and above were recruited through convenience sampling between 22 September 2025 and 15 November 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating the WHOQOL-BREF and the short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale. Participants were drawn from two government and three private OAHs located in Gazipur (65.2%), Chattogram (31.0%), and Noakhali (3.8%). Most respondents were women (79.7%), aged 70–80 years (34.8%), and had low educational attainment (44.3% illiterate). More than half reported existing illnesses (57%), particularly physical ailments (53.8%), heart disease (13.3%), and viral infections (19%). Although emotional support (82.3%) and recreational opportunities (63.3%) were commonly reported, social disengagement remained high (51.9%). Overall, 70.3% rated their QoL as fair, while 15.8% reported poor and 13.9% good QoL; 82.3% of participants were found to be depressed. QoL was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with region, age, current illness, physical activity, social engagement, time-use patterns, and type of OAH. A strong association was also observed between depression and overall QoL (p < 0.001). Multinomial logistic regression identified service satisfaction, social participation, and region as significant predictors of fair and good QoL. The findings underscore the need to strengthen institutional care, healthcare services, and social and physical activity programs to enhance the well-being of older adults residing in OAHs in Bangladesh.