Aspects of healthy aging and policy implications in the era of centenarians: Based on the longitudinal study of M city(Ⅱ)

Abstract

Researchers have suggested various predictors of healthy aging such as staying away from the risk of diseases, maintaining high levels of physical and cognitive function, and participating in one's life actively. ?In order to attain healthy aging, it is more effective to maintain or enhance the health levels of healthy or frail elders than those who already experience malfunctions in the activities of daily living. ?This study used the methods of literature review and case analyses. Based on the existing literature, we examined the construct of healthy aging. A survey with structured questionnaire was also conducted for the older residents of a small-and-medium city in the rural region on the state of their health care. ?We designed a comprehensive questionnaire to examine the health conditions of the elders in the community and analyzed the case results. These results were used to categorize the physical health levels of elders. This study aimed to develop indicators of the pre-frail elders via group comparison analysis and to develop effective service programs for healthy aging. ?We developed variables that had statistically significant differences with relevant variables into the indicators of the pre-frail elders based on the case analysis results of the 2012 survey. ?Nineteen variables were selected as the indicators of the pre-frail elders. Physical health functions included 9 variables: the number of chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, grasping power, standing with one leg, EQ-5D, vision, hearing, chewing capability, and fear of falling. Health practices included 6 variables: exercises or not, 2-km walking, sleeping hours, sound sleep, and nutritive conditions (MNA). Social relationships included 4 variables: having intimate friends and neighbors or not, going out in a week or not, telephone contact with relatives/friends/neighbors, and participation to organizations. ?Further, we categorized the health levels of restricted physical functions by reanalyzing the 2011 National Survey of Korean Elders. Healthy elders were 40.4%, pre-frail elders 33.3%, frail elders 12.3%, and disabled elders 14%. ?We suggested policy implications that communities need to utilize the indicators of the pre-frail elders, develop health care and health promotion programs that primarily target pre-frail elders, facilitate social relationships centering around local communities, and develop healthy aging strategies according to elders' health levels.