Association Between Social Support and Quality of Life: Cross-Sectional Study Among Older Adults Receiving Home Care Services in Finland

Introduction: The aim of this study is to examine the association between social support and quality of life among older adults receiving home care services and to identify the key variables with the most impact on the quality of life (QOL). Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected in Finland from older (aged 65 and over) home care recipients and merged with administrative data (n = 442). The analysis was done using multiple linear regression. Results: The findings showed that having more social support was positively associated with increased QOL ( p < .001). The presence of adequate help and support ( p < .001) and higher education ( p < .034) were significantly associated with better QOL. Depressed older home care recipients were more likely to experience a lower QOL ( p < .001). Conclusions: The findings highlight the essential role of social support in promoting older adults’ possibilities to live at home meaningfully. When developing home care services, more attention is needed in recognizing and addressing older care recipients’ social needs alongside health-related tasks.