Table 2.

QoL Dimensions illustrated by quotes

Dimension	Quote
Independence	Quality of life? Well, that means to me that I still have independence. I like to be able to do things for myself (Female, 91 years) The worst thing about getting old, is your lack of independence. (Female, 87 years) Well, I like to be independent. I like to be able to look after myself as much as possible, but it is nice to have the help when you feel that you can’t (Female, 83 years) Well, I think quality of life to me means everything. It means independence, to be in charge of yourself. Yeah, that probably just sums it up in a couple of words, you know, to have that total independence really… just be in control; that’s really, really important to me. Not to have other people make decisions. I make the decisions where it relates to me (Female, 76 years) Well, I like having control over what I do. I don’t want to have people telling me what to do (Male, 78 years)
Social connections	You need a few good friends and you need good family, supportive family, and also neighbours are important when you’re so much at home. I’m very fortunate, I have nice neighbours and I have friends and family who are very, very supportive (Female, 76 years) One girl comes in and does the cleaning, two hours, and we have a little bit of a chatter and cup of tea. The other girl comes in and we go shopping and have a cup of coffee out so that’s my enjoyment as far as the week’s concerned. It breaks up the week. (Female, 95 years) I don’t have social relationships with people except for the people who come here, carers (Male, 82 years) I’ve just lost a very dear friend. Seventy-five years we’ve been friends. That was only two weeks ago. It’s hard to watch them go, you know (Female, 85 years) I think [Names], they are simply fantastic friends. I tell them what I do. I tell them my life history; they tell me their life history and I’ve never had such good friends…Normally I would see them on a daily basis (Male, 78 years)
Emotional well-being	When I first lost my sight I went into depression and being a bright person that was disastrous but it took me two years to accept that I couldn’t – I was a dressmaker, I was a china painter, I did all sorts of fine crafts, taught fine crafts and then not to be able to do any of it, that was very – it took a lot out of me. (Female, 93 years) I do suffer with the anxieties and I do get worried. Last year I became very depressed, just through other family members that tried to make our lives very difficult (Female, 76 years) I do sometimes feel, not depressed but I feel a bit anxious about things (Female, 84 years) I have the horrors about going into care… I don’t know how I’d cope with that (Female, 91 years) I’m happy and happy is quality of life (Male, 78 years)
Mobility	One quality of life that I miss is my mobility. That’s being unable to walk very far. It’s lack of ability that’s the greatest lack that I have. I am constrained from doing what I want to do, you know, because physically I’m constrained, not mentally but physically. (Female, 87 years) That’s [physical mobility] a little bit difficult at the moment. Apart from the ankle I could get around all right but it’s just a bit awkward now. As I say, I used to walk around the village every day. I can’t walk properly now without pain (Male, 84 years) I can’t get around very much on my feet. I have a stick and my walker so that’s very important to me (Male. 81 years) Physically when you go to do it you no longer can do it. Now, up until a couple of years ago I could walk around and do all different things, just took it for granted (Female, 76 years)
Activities	Well, this probably might attribute to some people but I go to what’s called [name]here and we don’t learn craft because that’s behind us now, we all know knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, all that sort of thing, and that is my happiest day of the week, Wednesday morning. We have so much fun, we just talk to one another and laugh (Female, 84 years) I’m a person that likes to be doing something…I like to be active. I like to – I paint as a hobby… I like to have interest in things. I’m a member of the jazz club. I don’t always get there as often as I’d like to…I just like to keep busy (Female, 85 years) I do lots of crosswords and I watch quiz shows. I’ve got to keep my mind busy. I think that’s a really important thing when you’re getting older, to keep your brain moving, you know, keep it going. (Female, 80 years) I think there’s things I want to do now that I haven’t done for many, many years. I want to get back to singing. My voice has gone, and I want to get it back so I’m going to be getting back on the keyboard to keep my voice going. That’s important to me because I was a singer, you see (Female, 80 years) I like to get out and – with my volunteering job at the library and relationships [at the] keep fit class and all those sorts of things (Male, 81 years)