AN INTER VENTION FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL PARTICIPATION FOR THE COMMUNITY DWELLING ELDERLY

本研究目的在探讨社区老人计画对改善老人生活品质的成效。这些项目是每月一次在冲绳浦添市的七个社区中心免费提供的集体午餐和娱乐活动。研究对象为800名社区居家老人，均为自愿参加。该方案于1992年在三菱基金会的财政支助下启动，随后在1995年和1996年两年提供了科学研究补助金。以1991年的访谈调查结果作为基线数据。使用东京都老年学量表和生活满意度指数K对参加者和非参加者的能力进行了比较。结果表明，能力随着年龄的增长而下降，但参加者的能力水平与非参加者相比下降非常缓慢。参与者与非参与者的生活满意度差异无显著性，但参与者与非参与者的生活满意度差异有扩大的趋势。这一发现表明，社区参与将是有效的，为老年人保持他们的能力。在生活满意度方面没有观察到明显的影响，但是，当观察期延长时，可以预期有效性。

The purpose of this study was to examine effectiveness of the community program for the aged to improve their quality of life. The programs were congregated luncheon and recreation which were offered once a month without charge at seven community centers in Urasoe City, Okinawa. The participants were about 800 community dewelling elderly, who accepted the program voluntarily. This program was initiated in 1992 with financial support of the Mitsubishi Foundation, but followed by the Grants-In-Aid Scientific Research for two years in 1995 and 1996. Results of interview survey in 1991 were used as a baseline data. The competence measured by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Scale and Life Satisfaction Index K were used to compare the results among participants and non participants.As a result, competence has decreased according to aging, however, level of competence of the participants had decreasing very slowly compared to non-participants. No significant difference was observed in life satisfaction, but, the difference between the participants and non-participants has expanded.In conclusion, the intervention program of congregated luncheon and recreation were effective to maintain the competence for the aged in the community. This finding suggests that community participation will be effective for the aged to maintain their competence. No clear effects were observed in life satisfaction, however, effectiveness may be expected when observation period extended longer.