Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the number of older people living alone that local volunteers monitor and satisfaction or burden regarding monitoring and monitoring-related activities.
Method: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted with 1,812 (100%) local volunteers monitoring older people living alone. The survey items consisted of basic characteristics, number of older people living alone that they monitor in a month, monitoring activities, monitoring-related activities, scale of social activities, and scales of satisfaction and burden regarding monitoring activities. The number of older people living alone that they monitor in a month was classified into three groups: zero, one to five people, and six or more people. χ2 test was performed for items of basic characteristics and monitoring-related activities, and one-way covariance analysis and multiple comparison tests were conducted to examine satisfaction with or burden of monitoring activities according to each group.
Result: The number of responses analyzed was 749 (41.3%). The percentage of those who performed monitoring-related activities and scores on scales of social activities and satisfaction were highest in the group of six or more people (p<.001). The burden score was lowest in the group of one to five people compared with the other groups (p<.001).
Conclusion: The results suggest that the large number of older people living alone that local volunteers monitor was related to a high degree of satisfaction and monitoring-related activities, and that local volunteers monitoring one to five people might be most appropriate.
