Daily activity factors related to extending healthy life expectancy

Abstract

This study investigated factors affecting healthy life expectancy among certified long-term care residents in urban areas of Nagata-ku, Kobe City and Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture. Through interviews at nursing care facilities and in their homes, the study analyzed how community activities, exercise, roles, daily activities, and purpose in life/hobbies were related to healthy life expectancy. We classified those who were certified as needing nursing care 2 or more before healthy life expectancy as “accelerated caregivers” and others as “delayed caregivers,” and investigated the relationship with healthy life expectancy by physical disability factor and cognitive factor. The results showed that for physical disability factors, frequency of participation in community activities and conversation, family structure, roles（community association officer and employment）, and daily activities（community activities, walking, reading, etc.）were significantly related to healthy life expectancy. Among cognitive factors, exercise frequency was significantly related to healthy life expectancy. Multiple regression analysis indicated that participation in community activities, exercise frequency, frequency of going out, roles, and daily activities were significantly related to healthy life expectancy in the physical disability factor group, while only exercise frequency was significantly related in the cognitive factor group. There were differences between the physical disability and cognitive factors.