Living requirements enhance empowerment for the elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the living requirements enhance empowerment for the elderly. The subjects were all the residents of 65 years of age and older in an agricultural village near a large urban center in Japan. 876 residents answered the mailed questioners twice with four-year interval. The results were as follows : 1) According to the results of logistic analysis by stepwise methods, "positive approach for living" was promoted by "participation to local activities", "safety in an emergency" and "high health motivation". 2) Also, "feeling importance" was promoted by "communication with family" and "high health motivation" These findings suggested that the living requirements enhance empowerment for the elderly related to the individual motivation for life, communication with family and community, and supportive health-social systems. Further research must be done to develop more practical methods to enhance empowerment for the elderly.