In order to be able to provide care and service of high quality to older people, knowledge about factors influencing their experience of satisfaction with the care is essential.

Purpose: To explore care satisfaction in relation to health related quality of life, functional dependency, health complaints and place of living among people 65 years or older, receiving formal care and service.

Methods: 166 people receiving care and service from the municipality were interviewed regarding demography, functional ability, perceived health complaints and care. Health related quality of life was measured with SF-12, and care satisfaction was measured with a questionnaire.

Results: The people were in mean 84 years old and those at home were more often cohabitating, less dependent in activities of daily living, less cognitively impaired and had fewer health complaints regarding mobility, faeces incontinence and pressure ulcer, compared to those in special accommodation (equivalent to nursing home). Low care satisfaction was associated with IADL dependency, blindness, faeces incontinence and anxiety, while high care satisfaction was associated with PADL dependency. Those at home rated an overall higher care satisfaction and were more satisfied with care continuity, personal relations and that staff have plenty of time, are respectful and quiet, than those in special accommodation.

Conclusions: Care satisfaction and health related quality of life (HRQoL) among older people was found to be more associated to functional impairment and health complaints than to whether care and service is received at home or in special accommodation.