SUPPORT OF THE LIFESTYLE IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY LIVING ALONE: FOCUS ON HOUSEHOLD TASKS

Background: An old couple or single is a normal lifestyle in Europe. On the other hand, the Japanese elderly often begins a single life after aging or after becoming the need of nursing care state, and difficulty in the life... [ view full abstract ]

Background: An old couple or single is a normal lifestyle in Europe. On the other hand, the Japanese elderly often begins a single life after aging or after becoming the need of nursing care state, and difficulty in the life is predicted. A characteristic of the elderly living alone is to need much support in IADL. The purpose of study is to clarify a clue of the independence support by investigating solution of the household tasks of the single life elderly using a qualitative method.
Methods: The subjects were 6 females and 4 males 65-91 years old who were using home-visit care services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted about solutions of household tasks. The data gathered from the study was analyzed using the KJ method.
Results: It was found that these 8 concepts : “having decision making ability”, “having ones own way of doing things”, “maintaining relationships with close friends and family”, “efficiency of work”, “making new strategy”, “planning risk management”, “coping and adopting to environment”, “to get relief for living alone”. As reference AMPS, the motor skill were mean 1.35logit, the process skill were mean 1.57logit. According to the cut-off point that at-home life was possible, it was less by the motor skill and exceeded by the process skill.
Conclusion: We should approach occupational therapy taking into account not only the movement and the skill, but instead should consider the clients personality and social relationship, a feeling of security from making the basis of their lifestyle as well.