Aging & Social Change: Eleventh Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Japan is facing various issues related to its highly aged society. In recent years, nursing care prevention is a key focus in the Japanese government policies and participation is encouraged. Objective of this study is to investigate relationship between health condition and participation for the elderly living in urban area in Japan using WHO disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Questionnaires were distributed to 229 older adults who were members of local senior citizen club and 203 persons returned the questionnaire (response rate = 88.6%). Health condition was measured by WHODAS 2.0 12-item version. Social participation and having role were regarded as participation in this study. Social participation was defined as involvement in social activities. Having role was measured by working status and execution of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Analysis was carried out on 170 subjects, excluding 33 people whose information on age, sex missing and the invalid result of WHODAS 2.0. Mean age of participants was 79.2 years old and 44% of them were men. Average of total points of WHODAS 2.0 (12 to 60 points, higher is worse) was 17.9. Chi-squire results showed health conditions indicated by WHODAS 2.0 related to working status, not to IADL and social participation. Further analysis was conducted and showed relationship between working status and WHODAS 2.0 items of ‘standing’, ‘maintaining a friendship’, ‘Dealing with strangers’ and ‘emotional affected’. It might be suggested that not only physical function but sociability and emotional status are effect on participation for the older adults.