QOL - Quality of life

Japanese: QOL - QOL/きゅーおーえる（英語表記）quality of life

QOL is a concept that includes not only physical wealth, the amount of services, and individual self-reliance, but also the wealth of life as a whole, including mental well-being, and self-actualization. Until the 1960s, medical rehabilitation and welfare only aimed to restore and assist with ADLs, which are the basic functions of daily life, such as walking, eating, putting on and taking off clothes, washing, bathing, and defecation. However, in the 1970s, in the fields of terminal care and the independent living movement for people with disabilities, attention shifted from focusing only on ADLs to ensuring the quality of life that individuals desire by using the assistance of others, even if they are unable to take care of themselves. In elderly welfare as well, there is a demand for assistance in improving QOL, such as a sense of purpose in life and happiness.

(Shigekazu Nakatani, Associate Professor, Seigakuin University / 2007)

Source : "Chiezo" published by Asahi Shimbun Publications Co., Ltd. About Chiezo

Japanese:

QOLは、物理的な豊かさやサービスの量、個々の身辺自立だけでなく、精神面を含めた生活全体の豊かさと自己実現を含めた概念。1960年代までの医学的リハビリテーションや福祉では、ADLが意味する、歩行、摂食、衣服の着脱、洗面、入浴、排便といった日常生活における身辺動作の回復や介助という点のみが目指されてきた。しかし、70年代のターミナルケアや障害者の自立生活運動などの領域で、ADLのみに注目するのではなく、身辺自立ができなくても他者の介助を利用して当事者の望む生活の質を確保することに目が向けられるようになった。高齢者福祉においても、生きがいや幸福感といったQOL向上の援助が求められている。

(中谷茂一聖学院大学助教授／ 2007年)

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