Health Policy Manag.  2019 Dec;29(4):412-421. 10.4332/KJHPA.2019.29.4.412.

A Comparative Study on the Factors Affecting the Successful Aging between Users and Non-users of Kyung-ro-dang for Community Care Policy Activation

• Song GR
• Nam EW
• Jin KN

• KMID: 2470449
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2019.29.4.412

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to identify the status of Successful Aging among the elderly aged 65 and over in rural areas and to compare factors related with Successful Aging between "kyung-ro-dang" users and non-users.
METHODS
A total of 181 elderly aged 65 or older were selected from four districts (Heung-upri, Mejiri, Sajerri, and Daeanri) of Wonju city. A survey method using face to face interviews was applied to collect information. Successful aging was measured on a 5-point Likert-type scale using the successful aging scale developed for the Korean elderly, which indicates the higher the score, the higher the level of successful aging. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were computed; the level of significance was set at 5%. Hierarchical polynomial regression was applied to find out the factors associated with successful aging.
RESULTS
Of the total, 112 elders used kyung-ro-dang and 69 elders who did not use kyung-ro-dang. The level of successful aging of the elderly was higher among kyung-ro-dang users than non-users. The factors related to successful aging among kyung-ro-dang users were walking and social participation. Users who walk more than 4 times per week and social participation activities have a higher level of satisfaction. In the case of non-users, a higher level of monthly income, having a spouse, social support, and social participation associated with a higher level of successful aging.
CONCLUSION
Monthly income, social participation, and social factors were found to be related to successful aging along with physical and mental health conditions among the elderly in rural areas. Therefore, it can be concluded that income, social as well as mental and physical factors, are more critical for successful aging in the rural community care in Korea.

Keyword

Community health services; Senior centers; Aged; Social support; Social participation

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aging*
Community Health Services
Gangwon-do
Humans
Korea
Mental Health
Multivariate Analysis
Rural Population
Senior Centers
Social Participation
Spouses
Surveys and Questionnaires
Walking