Difference of Health Consciousness According to Living Environment and Economic Level of the Elderly in the Urban-Rural Complex Area

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data to develop suitable health and welfare services for the elderly living in urban-rural complex area, by investigating their living environment, economic level and health consciousness.

Method/Statistical Analysis: This study was conducted on the elderly living in K city, Gyeonggi-do. The data was collected by using survey method, which was designed to find out the living environment, economic level, and health consciousness of the elderly in the urban-rural complex area. The data were analyzed by using PASW 18.0 statistical program, descriptive statistics analysis was conducted to analyze the frequency and ratio of each item, and chi-square analysis(χ 2 ) was conducted to find out the difference in health consciousness between living environment and economic level.

Findings: The more they had economic difficulties, the higher they watched TV and listened to radio. and the higher the desire for health and exercise programs. Especially, the elderly living alone had poor living environment and economic level, plus high restriction on health and exercise.

Improvements/Applications: It appears that elderly living alone in urban-rural complex area have a high desire to participate in health and exercise programs, which is thought to require attention and research to remove restrictions on physical activity programs for elderly living alone.