電動カートを活用した高齢者のグループ活動の実践と評価

Evaluation of Group Activities for Older People Using Mobility Scooters

抄録

　本研究では，通所事業所における電動カートを活用したグループ活動の評価を目的とする．対象は，X通所事業所の利用者で，電動カートに関心があって安全に操作でき，本人および家族の承諾が得られた5人とした．活動は，敷地内の走行や2km先の公園へのツーリングなど，参加者の意向を踏まえて月2回の頻度で実施された．1年後，生活の変化と主観的満足度について，半構成的面接による約20分のインタビューを対象者に行った．インタビューの結果，5人すべてにコミュニケーションの増加，家庭のなかでの役割の増加，新たな活動へのチャレンジといった生活の変化が認められた．また，5人すべてが活動を楽しみ，満足度が高かった．よって，要介護状態の高齢者であっても，電動カートという新たな移動手段獲得の可能性が期待された．また，活動量が増加し要介護度の悪化を認めなかったこと，すなわち健康的な生活を継続できたことから，介護予防につながることが示唆された．

　Older people need to be mobile as long as possible despite existing health conditions and poor physical function. The ability to travel is associated with freedom, activity, and choice, and lack of mobility in older people is associated with low mood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of group activities on older people using mobility scooters at a day-service facility and explore the impact this intervention had on their life.

　With the permission of the treating physical therapist and consent of the participants and family, a total of five users of the day service participated in the study. Following a year of group activities such as riding around the day center's grounds and going out to stores and parks escorted by staff, participants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews about life changes and subjective life satisfaction. We evaluated the group activities based on the interview results in cooperation with facility staff.

　All participants showed positive life changes such as increased communication, increased life satisfaction, having a greater role within the family, and trying something new. In addition, they reported enjoying and being satisfied with the group activities. These findings indicate that older people with walking difficulties can obtain a new means of mobility using an electric scooter if they are provided with encouragement, support and opportunity to use this mobility device. The study suggests that group activities using mobility scooters would promote healthy lifestyle for older people.