2016 Volume 19 Issue 1 Pages 48-54
Purpose: The purpose was to clarify initiatives by housing complex residents' associations for preventing elderly from experiencing solitary death and gain suggestions for nursing.
Method: The subjects were 3 presidents of 3 residents' associations fundamentally involved in initiatives supporting the elderly, including preventing isolation and solitary death among elderly living alone in housing complexes. This qualitative descriptive study analyzed data collected through semi-structured interviews.
Results/Conclusion: This study was comprised of 4 categories: difficulties of intervening based on individual circumstances, monitoring of elderly by trial and error, mutually cooperative relationships developed among residents, and organizational capabilities of residents' associations. Though difficulties of intervening based on individual circumstances exist in housing complexes, commissioned welfare volunteers and paid volunteers monitored elderly by trial and error through “a system of monitoring activities,” and residents' associations implemented initiatives to prevent solitary death. A campaign by residents' associations encouraging courteous interaction progressed until mutually cooperative relationships developed among residents through “ties between residents and elderly” and “assistance provided by neighbors familiar with the elderly's lifestyles.” The organizational capabilities of residents' associations, including “residents who helped monitor elderly” and “systems unique to residents' associations,” supported initiatives to prevent solitary death among the elderly. Such activities by residents' associations in housing complexes are not only initiatives for preventing solitary death, but also lead to regional revitalization and community rebuilding in the metropolitan area, suggesting that interventions by nursing professionals in social-participation settings for the elderly are potential opportunities for early detection of individuals requiring nursing care and the need for support.
