Abstract
Purpose : The purpose was to clarify the meaning of independence in the elderly living alone in a rural community and to obtain the suggestion of the ideal way of the independence support of the elderly living alone in the future. Subjects : The total subjects were 26 persons consisting of 16 elders living alone (primary informant) and 10 professions (key informant) in A rural area in Tohoku in Japan. Methods : The qualitative research methods by micro ethnography was used. Data was collected by the semi-structural interview with the research question "what is the meaning of independence in the elderly living alone in rural community?" and the data was analyzed by using the method of a qualitative induction analysis. Results : Two main meanings of independence in the elderly living alone in the rural community ; <maintaining of dignity for own will and life> and <living together the nature and people of community> were detected. Moreover the former includes "Self decision-making," "Advance-directives," "Self-help to the living alone life," "Own role and task in everyday life," "Vitality enough for living alone life," and "Acceptance of reality and having emotional independence." The latter includes "Dignity to the rural community culture," "Rural community organization," "Living arrangement in the small community," and "Adaptation to the rural nature." Conclusion : It is necessary for elders living alone in the rural community to develop the health promotion program based on their cultural meaning of independence.
