Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing 2007;9(1):68-75.

독거노인의 일상생활능력과 인지정도

안수연

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify levels of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and cognition in elders living alone. The participants in this study were 572 elders registered for ‘The Project of Home Visiting Care in 2004’ of two public health centers in Korea. Each scale was developed for the project was based on original scales. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS Win 11 version to obtain summary statistics for the descriptive analysis, and Pearson correlation coefficients. The score for ADL was 11.82 out of 12 and IADL, 15.48 of out 16. The scores for toileting (t=2.852, p=.005) and stair climbing (t= 2.049, p=.042) were lower in women than in men. Stair climbing (F=t=4.682, p=.010), money management (F=3.427, p=.033), using telephone (F=3.728, p=.025), grocery shopping (F=6.012, p=.003), and transportation (F=8.069, p=.000) were significantly different according to age. The cognition level did not differ according to sex but differed according to age (F=5.804, p=.004). ADL and IADL were positively correlated with subjective health status but not related to cognition. The findings of this study provide practical guidelines for supporting elders living alone according to levels of ADL, IADL and cognition.

Key words: 독거노인, 일상생활능력, 인지정도