Factors Related to the Self-Rated Health of Elderly Persons Requiring Support

Abstract

PurposeThis research aimed to clarify the factors related to the self-rated health of elderly persons requiring support persons who were certified as requiring support 1-2 by the long-term care insurance law in Japan , and verifies these factors according to age group. MethodsSubjects comprised 1,732 elderly persons requiring support individuals who were sent self-administered questionnaires by postal mail. ResultData from 1,046 valid responses were subjected to logistic regression analysis. The following factors were found to be related to the self-rated health of elderly persons requiring support young age group, worry about the household finances, high degree of cog-nition, have many diseases, have many objective symptoms, dissatisfied with sleep, require preventive support for depression, and going out less than once per week. In the young-old, risk factors were have many diseases, require preventive support for depression, and reduced activities of daily living. In the old-old, risk factors were worry about the household finances, high degree of cognition, have many diseases, and require preventive support for depression. In the oldest-old, risk factors were have many diseases, dissatisfied with sleep, and require preventive support for depression. ConclusionThe present findings suggest that it is important to improve the self-rerated health of elderly persons requiring support, reduce the pressure of household finances, prevent lifestyle-related diseases and depression, appropriately manage symptoms, improve satisfaction with sleep, and facilitate going out more frequently. In addition, it is necessary to develop support strategies that are suited to the characteristics of each age group.