ひとりで暮らす虚弱高齢者の生きる希望に関連する要因

Hope and Related Factors among of the Frail Elderly Living at Home Alone

要旨

目的：ひとりで暮らす虚弱高齢者の希望と，老いの肯定的意識，健康状態，社会的役割，ライフスタイル，ソーシャルネットワーク，サポート受領との関連を明らかにする．

方法：65歳以上の独居高齢者を対象に質問紙調査を実施した．分析対象者は要介護度1から非該当者までの463名であった．希望レベルはHerth Hope Index（HHI）により測定し，HHI得点を従属変数とする重回帰分析を行った．

結果：対象者の年齢は83.4±6.6歳で，HHI得点は33.1±6.7点であった．HHI得点と有意な関連が認められたのは，老いの肯定的意識（β＝0.244），精神的健康（β＝0.241），社会的役割（β＝0.175），ソーシャルネットワーク（β＝0.027），訪問介護サービス（β＝0.124）であった．

結論：虚弱な独居高齢者の希望を高めるためには，人生経験を振り返りながら老いを生きることを肯定的に意味づけし，近隣とのかかわりや社会活動への参加を通して他者とのつながりがもち続けられ，精神的健康状態が維持できるように支援することが重要である．

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hope and positive aging cognition, health conditions, social roles, life style, social network, and support for the frail elderly living at home alone.

Methods: The participants were senior citizens in Japan who aged 65 and above. Data were collected via anonymous questionnaire. The 463 study subjects were matched for care-need requirement from nothing to level 1 according to long-term care insurance in Japan. The Herth Hope Index (HHI) was used to assess the level of hope. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.

Results: The mean age of the subjects was 83.4 ± 6.6 years. The mean HHI score was 33.1 ± 6.7. On regression analysis, HHI score significantly correlated with positive aging cognition (β = 0.244), mental health (β = 0.241), roles in the community (β = 0.175), social network (β = 0.027), and home-help services (β = 0.124).

Conclusion: The findings suggest the importance of caregiver and local resident support for the frail elderly living at home alone in order to improve hope by positive living in old age through their own life histories, maintaining social networking by exchange with the neighborhood and community, and remaining in good mental health.