Abstract
The purpose of this study is to obtain suggestions for planning social supports for the elderly people living alone. The survey was conducted in I-city, suburb of Tokyo. The sample size was 150 elderly people living alone, and the available data was collected from 102 samples by interviewing. The main contents of survey were the conditions of daily life, independent life, the conditions of physical levels, the receiving of social support (instrumental and emotional support) , and the condition of mental well-being. The functional conditions of physical levels were measured by the TMIG (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology) Index. The condition of mental well-being was measured by the GDS (Geriatric Depression Scale) Short Version for Japanese elderly people, and PGC Moral Scale. The results were as follows ; (1) The condition of mental well-being was related to 5 factors ; [Ownership of house], [TMIG Index score], [Convenience in daily life], [Social support], [Age]. It wasn't related to [the Conditions of physical levels], and [Existence of child]. (2) Therefore, it was suggested that the maintaining of functional conditions of one's independent life and the receiving of social support (instrumental and emotional support) were significant for mental well-being of the elderly people living alone.
