Development of a social activities scale for community-dwelling older people requiring support.

Aim: This study aims to develop the Social Activities Scale for Community-Dwelling Older People Requiring Support (SASOS). Design: This study is a cross-sectional investigation. Methods: The participants were healthy older people (HOP; N = 140) and those requiring support (OPRS; N = 250). An anonymous questionnaire included items on SASOS, subjective health and ikigai (Japanese well-being concept). Criterion-related validity was examined using the Social Activity Index for Elderly People (SAI-E). Results: Seventy-five HOP and 157 OPRS provided effective responses. The scale (α = 0.805) had three subscales: "interactions with friends and neighbors (F1)," "close relationships with family (F2)" and "interactions with others through activity programs (F3)." SASOS and SAI-E scores were correlated (r = .558, p < .01), indicating criterion-related validity. In known-groups validity analysis, F1 were significantly higher among HOP and F3 were significantly higher among OPRS. Total scores correlated with perceived health (r = .240, p < .01) and ikigai (r = .419, p < .01).

Social activities of older men who require daily support and the purpose of such activities.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the social activities of older men who require daily support, and to clarify the purpose of such activities, in order to develop effective living support and preventive long-term care service, suitable for this population.Methods Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 older men. Data were analyzed using inductive and qualitative methods.Results Four categories of social activities were identified, and four categories of purposes of these social activities were extracted. The following were the identified social activities: maintenance of "comfortable relationships with others," including family, relatives, friends, and neighbors; "participation and use of services and programs with clear objectives and relationships with others," such as long-term care insurance system services, clubs for the elderly, and hobby groups; maintenance of "relationships with former colleagues, depending on their experience of working with them," where some individuals actively participated in gatherings with former colleagues, while others did not keep in touch at all; and participation in "activities to enrich their feelings and quality of life within their living space," such as reading, watching TV, and doing household chores. The purposes of the observed social activities were to build "relationships with society through communication with other people" and to have a "sense of security by spending time with people of the same age and with those older than them." Hence, participants engaged in clubs for the elderly, as well as in hobby groups. In addition, participants made time for exercising regularly, which maintained their cognitive function and was intended for the "maintenance and activation of their physical functions by continuing to exercise," and "continuing to learn by thinking." Furthermore, participants engaged in the exercise or hobby groups that they were interested in, in order to "utilize their time in a meaningful way" that lead to pleasure and enjoyment.Conclusion The following were the characteristics of the observed social activities: (1) the activities helped participants to maintain relationships with their coworkers, (2) participants had comfortable relationships with others, with these relationships exhibiting different levels (i.e. intimate relationships or casual), and (3) participants actively followed current events. They have clear purpose join and participate in social activities. In addition, it is suggested that this population engage in social activities to enrich physical function and overall quality of life.

Awareness of the importance of public health nursing activities in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the importance of public health nurses (PHNs) in Japan assigned to the targets and methods of public health nursing activities. Subjects were PHNs who had 10 years or more of work experience. A cross-sectional written survey was used to collect data from 1,967 PHNs (42% response rate). Survey items sought opinions on trends in community health and welfare activities (TCHWA), and the importance of public health nursing activities. TCHWA responses indicated that 70% or more of participants recognized the expansion of public responsibility, and the importance of the individual level of practice and policy-making. Surveyed PHNs found coordinating an organization (83.6%) to be important. Correlation of responses regarding TCHWA and the importance of public health nursing activities highlighted the importance of policy-making and indicated a significantly high awareness of the importance of activities. PHNs regarded support at both the individual/family and population/community levels to be important in terms of public health nursing activities. Currently, regarding public health nursing activities, it is necessary to promote the role of safety nets for protecting citizens' health, and effective public health nursing activities from which all citizens can equitably resource.