Impact of the Comprehensive School for Older Adults on Quality of Life

Abstract

Introduction: active aging and quality of life in older adults are priorities in public health and higher education. The Comprehensive School for Older Adults (Escuela Integral para Personas Mayores, EIAM), developed by Universidad de Las Américas, aims to promote self-care, social participation, and overall well-being, while enhancing professional training of students through community engagement activities.
.
Methods: a mixed-methods design was applied. In the quantitative phase, 44 participants from the 2024 cohort completed a pre- and post-intervention quality-of-life questionnaire. In the qualitative phase, two focus groups were conducted with 24 participants from the 2023 cohort to explore perceptions and program-attributable changes. The evaluated dimensions included economic conditions, social participation, use of information and communication technologies, physical and mental health, social support networks, and overall well-being.
Results: improvements were observed in self-perceived skills for healthy eating (65,4 % to 88.3%), technology use (good or very good skills: 38.5% to 47.1%), and active physical and cognitive life (very good cognitive skills: 0% to 40%). Focus group findings highlighted strengthened community sense, self-esteem, civic participation, and self-care. Areas for improvement included program continuity, adaptation of academic language, and in-depth coverage of legal and digital literacy content.
Conclusions: the EIAM positively impacts older adults’ quality of life and university students’ comprehensive education, constituting an effective community engagement practice. Its continuity and expansion align with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 10, and 11, fostering health, inclusion, and sustainable community environments.