Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to clarify the level of adaptation and factors related to adaptation among relocated elderly community residents. Questionnaires were delivered by mail to 731 elderly who relocated to a northern urban area during summer of 2003 to summer of 2004. Analysis was performed on valid responses obtained from 299 individuals who indicated feeling either "adapted" or "not adapted". From the analysis of correlations between residents' level of adaptation and changing of living arrangement, health status, and social support, the following results were obtained. 1) Seventy seven % of respondents indicated they felt "adapted" to the new environment while 23.1% felt "not adapted". 2) Mean age and the percentage of residents requiring nursing care were higher among the "not adapted" group. Relocation was more often involuntary in the "not adapted" group. They had less knowledge of the new area, had more negative feelings about the new environment, and were in poorer health than the "adapted" group. 3) The "adapted" group had more positive feelings about the new environment, had more social support from relatives, and a larger social network of friends than the "not adapted" group. 4) Results of multivariate logistic analysis showed that the factors correlated with feeling "adapted" or "not adapted" were knowledge of the new area, social support, voluntarily relocating, financial difficulties. It is important for elderly to know new environment and preparation before relocation.
