Changes in functional capacity in older adults living alone: a three-year longitudinal study in a rural area of Japan.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this research were to clarify three-year changes in functional capacity and to investigate related physical health, psychological/mental health, and social health factors in older adults living alone in a rural area of Japan.


METHODS
Home visit interviews were conducted in 2000 (the baseline survey: n = 128) and in 2003 (the follow-up survey: n = 101) with older adults living alone in a town in Ishikawa prefecture. Seventy nine subjects were analyzed using logistic regression analysis at the follow-up survey.


RESULTS
Of these 79 subjects, 40 persons had scores for functional capacity decreased by one or more points, the "Lowered" group (50.6%), while 27 persons were "Unchanged" (34.2%), and 12 persons were "Improved" (15.2%). Factors at the baseline survey were compared between the "Lowered" group and the "Unchanged/Improved" group. Significant factors that caused a decreased functional capacity were age (75 years old and over), no participation in social activities, and contact with friends/neighbors over the phone less than once a week.


CONCLUSIONS
This research has shown that participation in social activities and contact with friends/neighbors maintain a higher functional capacity in older adults living alone.
Saito
Emiko
E
Department of Community Health Nursing, Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University, Tsu 7-1 Nakanuma, Kahoku, Ishikawa 929-1212, Japan.
Takai
Junko
J
Kanagawa
Katsuko
K
Honda
Akiko
A
Saeki
Kazuko
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population