Abstract
BackgroundMany older adults prefer to live alone in their own homes, with age-related issues in physical movement, regardless of their cultural background. Importantly, however, to identify the features of successfully ageing in place (AIP), and foster independent living among these individuals, this study explored their level of self-confidence to live alone and its related factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using secondary data from an earlier study with older adults living alone in South Korea recruited by convenience sampling methods (N = 936, mean age = 77.1 years, 76.1% female). Data regarding the general, health-related, and social characteristics as well as self-confidence to live alone were collected via face-to-face interviews in 2019. Self-confidence to live alone was measured with a numeric rating scale of 0 to 10.ResultsThe average self-confidence score to live alone was 6.59. A regression analysis showed that mould exposure at home, depression, emergency department visits, and loneliness hinder self-confidence to live alone. Meanwhile, such self-confidence was facilitated by independency in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), interactions with family members, social service utilisation, and social support.ConclusionsThis study suggests that healthcare providers need to consider the importance of self-confidence to live alone and influencing functional, mental, social, and environmental factors to promote quality of life as well as successful AIP for older adults living alone. Further, self-confidence to live alone could be a new practical index in the field of health and ageing to screen the successful AIP of older adults living alone.
Highlights
Many older adults prefer to live alone in their own homes, with age-related issues in physical movement, regardless of their cultural background
The number of older adults living alone has risen and is expected to increase, in Western and developed countries, including South Korea [1, 2]. These individuals are a vulnerable group that can face serious challenges to successfully ageing in place (AIP) because they tend to be socially isolated, feel lonelier [3], have poor health status [4], and lower life satisfaction [5]
This study aimed to explore the extent of selfconfidence to live alone and related factors in older adults living alone
Summary
Many older adults prefer to live alone in their own homes, with age-related issues in physical movement, regardless of their cultural background. The number of older adults living alone has risen and is expected to increase, in Western and developed countries, including South Korea [1, 2] These individuals are a vulnerable group that can face serious challenges to successfully ageing in place (AIP) because they tend to be socially isolated, feel lonelier [3], have poor health status [4], and lower life satisfaction [5]. AIP has emerged as a key concept in the field of gerontology, reflecting an increase in the ageing population, and their living preferences [8] It is defined as ‘meeting the desire and ability of people, through the provision of appropriate services and assistance, to remain living relatively independently in the community in his or her current home or an appropriate level of housing’ [9]. Recent studies have pointed out that all stakeholders need to be alert about the ‘stuck-in-place’ issues that accompany living with a shortage of financial, physical, and social resources necessary to live independently [12]
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