Socio-Medical Studies on Social Support for the Aged -A Survey of the Aged in Sasayama country-

老人の生活意識及び生活行動・家族による世話の状況を知り,公衆衛生活動に資するため,昭和51年から3回にわたり,兵庫県多紀郡篠山町の6地区に居住する,65歳以上の老人延べ664人並びにその家族142人を対象に,質問紙による標準化面接法により調査を行い,次のような結果を得た。すなわち1.老人の日常生活の場としての条件を満たしているものは70%強で,食塩の摂取には配慮していた。2.老後の生活費の自己責任意識は男性に,看護不安は女性に強く現われていた。3.健康の自己管理は70%弱が行い,老人医療費無料化は早期治療行動への心理的負担を軽減していた。4.家族が老人を特別に世話しているという意識は少いが心理的負担がある。5.老人クラブは老人の保健活動にも役立っている等である。With the purpose of understanding the current problem on health and welfare for the old age and of using the results for a public health service programme, we interviewed the aged above 65 years. The interviews were carried out three times every July since 1976, and the aged interviewd were 664 persons who lived in 6 different parts of Sasayama area in Hyogo Prefecture. In addition, in 1978 we interviewd the not aged 142 persons who lived together with the aged. The main results of the examinations were as follows: 1. Among the about 70% of the aged, live in comfortable houses that are provided with sunny living-rooms, ground floor bed-rooms and indoor toilet-rooms. They take care not to have much salty food. 2. The male realize the responsibility of making their own living, while the female are anxious about home nursing when they will have to live by themselves. 3. A little under 70% of persons take care of themselves. The fee-free system of medical care for the old-aged makes it easy for them to consult a physician as early as posible when they get ill. 4. A family living with the old-aged in the same house do not particularly take care of them but always take notice of them. A public health nurse and a home helper play an important role as a counselor for the old-aged and their families. 5. Old-aged club members undergo mass medical examination and health guidance more often than non-club members. Generally, the aged tend to consider that social welfare is related to social security rather than public health services. 6. As a result of our interview with the limited number of persons having need of support, it seems necessary to carry out a plan for home-nursing education and for promoting friendship among the old-aged living alone