This study aims at providing an upgraded suggestion to improve residential satisfaction for the elderly people. For this purpose, the current level of residential satisfaction will be examined and variations that impact measuring elements for the resi...
This study aims at providing an upgraded suggestion to improve residential satisfaction for the elderly people. For this purpose, the current level of residential satisfaction will be examined and variations that impact measuring elements for the residential satisfaction will be theoretically reassessed.
The subjects were selected from five nursing facilities and 6 skilled nursing facilities in Daejeon area. Using MMSE-K method, 140 seniors whose points were over 24, considered cognitively normal, as of September 2006 were chosen for the study.
The residential satisfaction was determined using RSQ developed by Boldy(2001). Six basic elements on living area, facility, social interaction, meals, care providers, and facility user's information were checked with the affective factors. Also, K-ADL(Korean-Activities of Daily Living) was used to examine ADL. To see the subjects' depression level, 'K-GDS(Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale'(Jung, In-Kwa, 1997) was used. Zimet, at el. (1988)'s device was also used to see the care providers' support.
The factors that affect the elderly people's residential satisfaction were categorized as personal, care provider, and facility for the analysis. Personal factors included age, gender, ADL and the degree of depression. The relationship with the care providers and their support were grouped as care provider factor. To see the facility factor, the types and their program participation were examined.
The results were as follows:
1. The overall residential satisfaction was 3.69 on a 5-point scale. Six basic elements in the order of listed above were rated as 3.84, 3.79, 3.09, 3.86, 3.91 and 3.70.
2. Among the affective factors that revealed statistical significance were ADL, depression, the relationship with the care providers and their support.
Based on the results, the following suggestions are given:
First, the basic elements that showed low satisfaction need to be primarily improved.
Second, as it turned out that the relationship with the care providers and their support were important factors for residential satisfaction, further vocational training and sufficient education for the care providers are necessary.
Third, it is important to meet the needs of the aged in the facilities and draw their participation as the current programs didn't seem to satisfy them.
Fourth, the programs that can prevent and alleviate depression are strongly needed as 20% of the aged in the nursing facilities have serious depression.
This study was done to give suggestions to improve residential satisfaction of the aged and to serve as a basis for policy strategies by examining the current conditions of the nursing facilities and how satisfied the aged in these facilities with the services they were provided.