Abstract
Descriptions of the research : People who live in mountainous areas tend to be weak and elderly. The purpose of this research is to clarify the characteristics of elderly people, living in mountainous areas, who are housebound and who have little opportunity to venture out of their homes. The study examines the support systems available for these people. As regards methodology, the research utilised a questionnaire and data analysis. The questionnaire was sent to 721 elderly people, aged 65 and over. Effective replies were received from 541 respondents. These 541 persons were classified under the headings Totally Housebound and Having Access to Out-of House Experiences. Consideration then was given to physical, social and mental comparisons between these subgroups. Results: It proved to be characteristic of the totally housebound respondents that those who were able to live independently within the confines of their homes also needed the care of an assistant when going out on foot. The consequent embarrassment which these people felt when going outside their homes, and their sense of being a social burden, was experienced almost as a physical pain, a pain of which they needed to be relieved. Although the totally housebound group expressed themselves as happy and satisfied with their lot in life, their feelings of satisfaction rated at a lower level than the feelings of the non-housebound group. The totally housebound group were able to enjoy closing relationship with a significant person, this relationship giving pleasure and a sense of fulfilment and meaning in life. However, for the housebound group overall, there was a decline in their relational patterns with wider society and in their autonomy with respect to day-today social norms. Conclusions : Elderly people in mountainous areas might be obliged to move to cities, to live with children, or to live in nursing-homes, when they have reached the point where they no longer can look after themselves. Many of those still living in mountainous areas are weak and elderly people. They are able to look after themselves but need assistance when leaving their homes. An exchange with a reliable friend might afford a way of saving the elderly from becoming totally housebound. To make this approach effective, not only must the opportunities be created. But suitable arrangements must also be work through, and put in place. Overall, the aim, in relation to the housebound elderly, must be to prepare an environment affording these people a quality of life as close as possible to that which they enjoyed when they were healthy. A policy, therefore, should be generated and implemented which creates out-of-house experiences for the totally housebound elderly, thus extending their lives and enhancing their quality of life.
