Social situation and life satisfaction in old age

A rating instrument suited for a standardized evaluation of the social situ ation within a geriatric assessment is presented. The social dimensions "ac tivities", "contacts", "living" and "finances" are screened by means of fou r to ten items and reflected by respective scores. The instrument was appli ed in a study group of 60 elderly persons of the general population and eva luated by means of life satisfaction measures. Positive correlations betwee n the dimensions of the social situation and the respective domains of life satisfaction were found. Cut-offs, allowing the identification of patients , whose social situation is indicative for a low life satisfaction, are pro posed.