Lin L C, Ou M, Wu S C
Institute of Clinical Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 1998 Jun;14(6):357-66.
The purpose of this research was to investigate the factors which influence morale among the elderly in long-term care. The sampling criteria for subjects were that they were (1) 65 years old or older and were residents or care recipients at a nursing home, day care or home care center which participated in the experimental project in Department of Health; (2) able to understand the Mandarin or Taiwanese language; (3) capable of verbal communication; and (4) family caregivers whose elder family met the above three requirements. A total sample of 174 subjects consisting of 87 elderly and 87 caregivers were chosen. Research findings revealed: the mean score for morale for elderly in this study was 11.71 out of range 2-19. Except for birthplace and caring models, there was no significant difference among the elderly. The elderly born in Taiwan had significantly higher morale than those born in Mainland China. The elderly in day care had significantly higher morale than those in home care and nursing homes. No significant difference was found among family caregivers, except for family caregivers who had changed their job due to the demands of caring for elderly relations. Elderly in this situation showed significantly lower morale in the elderly whose family caregivers did not change jobs. Correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between the elderly's level of daily activity and their morale level. Higher morale in the elderly was also found to be positively related to perceived higher levels of social support in family caregivers. In multiple regression, morale among the elderly was used as the criterion variable, while the variables of birth place, functional status, caregivers' perceived social support, home care, nursing home, changed job, never having had a job, caregivers' sex caregivers' educational level were used as predictors. The explanation variance achieved using the above research model was 30.78%. Recommendations derived from this study include suggesting the establishment of community adult day care centers to facilitate the elderly being able to stay within their communities, and to provide mental support for caregivers.
本研究的目的是调查影响长期护理中老年人士气的因素。受试者的抽样标准为：（1）65岁及以上，是参与卫生署实验项目的养老院、日托中心或家庭护理中心的居民或护理对象；（2）能听懂普通话或台语；（3）能够进行口头交流；（4）老年人家属护理人员符合上述三项要求。共选取了174名受试者，其中包括87名老年人和87名护理人员。研究结果显示：本研究中老年人的士气平均得分为11.71分（满分为2至19分）。除出生地和护理模式外，老年人之间无显著差异。出生在台湾的老年人的士气明显高于出生在中国大陆的老年人。日托中心的老年人的士气明显高于家庭护理和养老院的老年人。家庭护理人员之间无显著差异，除了因照顾老年亲属的需求而更换工作的家庭护理人员。这种情况下的老年人的士气明显低于家庭护理人员未更换工作的老年人。相关性分析表明，老年人的日常活动水平与他们的士气水平呈正相关。还发现老年人较高的士气与家庭护理人员感知到的较高社会支持水平呈正相关。在多元回归中，将老年人的士气作为标准变量，而将出生地、功能状态、护理人员感知到的社会支持、家庭护理、养老院、更换工作、从未工作过、护理人员性别、护理人员教育水平等变量作为预测变量。使用上述研究模型获得的解释方差为30.78%。本研究提出的建议包括建议建立社区成人日托中心，以方便老年人能够留在他们的社区内，并为护理人员提供精神支持。
