This study intended to analyze types of senior program available from senior residence and leisure welfare facilities for elders, and find out how much participation in the senior program may have significant effects on senior living satisfaction, so ...
This study intended to analyze types of senior program available from senior residence and leisure welfare facilities for elders, and find out how much participation in the senior program may have significant effects on senior living satisfaction, so that it could help develop special programs having potential positive effects on senior life, contributing to better senior living satisfaction.
To meet the goals, this study addressed the following questions: First, how are the demographic characteristics depending upon types of participation in senior welfare center programs? Second, how are the family characteristics depending on types of participation in senior welfare center programs? Third, how is senior living satisfaction depending upon types of participation in senior welfare center programs? Fourth, how are there differences in senior living satisfaction and participation in senior program between senior residence facilities and senior leisure facilities?
This study took samples from senior residence facilities and senior leisure facilities around metropolitan areas in Korea(Seoul and Gyeonggi province). For senior residence welfare facilities, this study surveyed elders in senior day cares for pay or at prime cost. For senior leisure welfare facilities, this study surveyed elders visiting senior welfare centers and senior recreational halls. Then, data were collected and analyzed through the questionnaire survey based on scales.
As a result, for ‘Hypothesis 1' supposing that ‘there will be differences in senior living satisfaction depending on demographic characteristics of respondents', it was verified that there were significant differences in living satisfaction depending upon monthly income and health awareness. This finding indicates that apart from relevant variables such as senior facility type and residence, economic circumstances and factors as measured with regular income have direct impact on senior living satisfaction, while positive/negative attitudes, self-confidence and activity depending on self-awareness about health have effects on preference for using senior welfare center programs as well as positive participation types.
For ‘Hypothesis 2’ supposing that ‘there will be differences in types of participation in senior welfare center programs as well as senior living satisfaction depending on family characteristics and family-related variables’, it was verified that there were significant differences in living satisfaction depending on spending money obtained from children and current problems.
For ‘Hypothesis 3’ supposing that ‘there will be differences in senior living satisfaction of elders in senior welfare facilities depending on actual profile and participations in senior program’, it was found that there were differences depending on facility types. Elders who used senior leisure welfare facilities including senior recreational hall and senior welfare center took more positive and voluntary part in senior programs than those in senior residence facilities, while elders living in senior residence facilities(e.g. day care centers for pay or at prime cost) showed most positive attitudes to using living support services and programs, but lowest preference for using senior counseling programs, etc.
For ‘Hypothesis 4’ supposing that ‘elders in senior leisure facilities will show more positive attitudes to participating in senior programs than those living in senior residence facilities’, there was a finding consistent with the hypothesis. It was found that home-based group, which could choose a variety of senior programs(e.g. pastime, leisure activity, job information, employment service(support), medical service, joining event, etc) depending on personal income level, local community traits, personal tastes and financial conditions during daily hours, showed autonomous and active participation types in the aspect of spontaneity and dynamic nature. On the contrary, it was found that senior residence facilities organized a series of programs in the framework of certain daily routines according to operation plans for each facility, and that is why elders of those facilities tended to show aspects of mandatory or uniform choice and participation.
For ‘Hypothesis 5’ supposing that ‘there will be differences in senior living satisfaction between senior leisure facility group and senior residence facility group’, it was found that there were significant differences only in financial factors(e.g. regular personal income, spending money) and health awareness between the two groups. According to facility types, it was found that both senior residence and leisure facility group showed relatively low living satisfaction on the whole(including subfactors of respondents' living satisfaction).
Based on these findings, this study can suggest the following implications of possible associations between living satisfaction and types of participation in senior programs for each senior welfare facility:
First, it is necessary to develop special senior programs by allowing for the characteristics of senior residence facilities and the needs of elders living in those facilities, so that they can feel better living satisfaction and can live more vital and refreshing daily life through more flexible and voluntary participation in senior programs.
In addition, it is also required to fundamentally improve corresponding measures, for instance, by stepping up senior residence facility standards and its maintenance standards; diversifying programs through senior care experts' training or reorientation; and offering senior programs and services based on individual characteristics and activity of elders.
Second, in view of positive associations and effects of participation in senior leisure facility program with and on senior living satisfaction, it is necessary to develop a variety of programs based on local community traits and elders' needs.
Finally, this study addressed associations between senior life and living satisfaction as well as associations between difference in facility type and relevant factors. Hopefully, it is expected that this study will contribute to making better senior welfare policies and showing better directions of senior welfare service to meet elders' needs in near future, and be used as a useful ground for seeking new awareness and alternative solutions in pursuit of possible ways to diversify, facilitate and realize participation in(or use of) senior programs.