This study is an inquiry into programs at social welfare facilities and those who experience them, namely, senior citizens who live alone. Specifically, it investigates how these programs relate to their users' quality of life, and how user satisfacti...
This study is an inquiry into programs at social welfare facilities and those who experience them, namely, senior citizens who live alone. Specifically, it investigates how these programs relate to their users' quality of life, and how user satisfaction levels influence their quality of life.
This study combined document-based and reality-based investigations. The former made reference to theories related to welfare of the senior citizens, as well as studies in academic theses and journals related to the characteristics of living alone, the realities of programs for the elderly, and the satisfaction of the senior citizens with their quality of life. The latter analyzed programs at social welfare facilities and satisfaction levels in respect to them centered on men and women aged 60 and older living alone and using the social welfare facilities and social welfare center for the elderly in Kimpo City, Gyeonggi Province. The study also used theoretical bases to analyze how individual backgrounds influenced the quality of life of these senior citizens. For this purpose, the study conducted a survey of men and women living alone and who were using the facilities for elderly recreation and physical education and the elderly social welfare center in Kimpo City. A practical study was carried out using 189 respondents.
The results of the study are summarized as follows:
First, the senior citizens under study were using various programs at various social welfare facilities, and they generally expressed positive views about the programs.
Second, the senior citizens under study generally viewed their quality of life negatively. Sub-factors of quality of life included social relations, which were viewed positively, and physical health, state of mind, and life environments, which were viewed negatively.
Third, differences were noted in respect to satisfaction with programs based on gender, state of health, economic situation, and the length of use of the social welfare facilities. Satisfaction with programs were higher for women than men, and also tended to be higher the healthier the individual's physical health and economic state, and the longer they used the social welfare facilities.
Fourth, differences in how these senior citizens viewed their quality of life were also noted based on individual characteristics excepting gender. Viewed broadly, quality of life was viewed more positively the younger, physically healthier, economically secure, and the longer they used the facilities.
Fifth, among individual characteristics, age, health and economic stability had the most significant impacts on perception of quality of life. Turning to sub-factors, age had a negative (-) impact on physical health, while health and economic security had positive (+) impact. Therefore, the elderly under study who were younger, healthier and more economically secure possessed positive views of their actual state of health. In regard to state of mind, health and economic stability had the most significant impact. As regards social relations, health had the most impact. As for life environment, age had a negative (-) impact, while health and economic security had positive (+) impact. Just as with physical health, the senior citizens under study who were younger, healthier and more economically secure also viewed their life environment positively.
Sixth, user satisfaction with social welfare facilities was shown to have a significant impact on quality of life. In other words, it can be said that the higher the senior citizen's satisfaction with the program(s) at the social welfare facilities, the more positive their perception of quality of life. Degree of satisfaction with the program(s) also had a significant influence on sub-factors for "quality of life" such as physical health, state of mind, social relations, and life environment. Also, the sub-factors most greatly affected by program satisfaction may be listed in order of greatest to least:life environment, state of mind, social relations and physical health.