Universidad Católica Boliviana "San Pablo"

6 ABSTRACT In Bolivia, like in many places around the world, the elderly rate increased, but at the same time there has been an increment in the inder of cognitive development and percentage of institucionalization in geriatric places. This research pretends to stablish the characteristics of the elderly life whom has been admitted in “Hogar San José” in Cochabamba. The present research has been realized with a qualitative approach and grounded theory method. The techniques and instruments used were observation, Folstein Mental Test (MMSE) and a semi structured interview. The sample in a first moment was composed by 40 elder people (20 men, 20 women), with the results of MMSE test, I proceed to take 18 interviews, both those who didn’t present cognitive impairment and who presented slight to modern impairment. The results has been divided in two, in one hand the descriptives, were I explain the categories and topics found in the interviews related to the life quality in geriatrics, about the emotional, social and physical wellness and their characters that increase or hinder them. In the results, graphics are showing some phenomens found in the research, such as memories or family visits. In conclusions, there is not a direct relation between cognitive impairment and life quality, since this last one is linked to other variables that affect both people who present cognitive impairment and who doesn’t. Keywords: Life Quality, Cognitive Impairment, Elder people, Wellnes