Need for Senior Friendly Products to Support Daily Life among Elderly in Their Home and Community

Abstract

Background The study was conducted to look at practical solutions to improve the quality of life of the aging population and to support effective and practical policies for the senior-friendly industry and long-term care insurance. Thus, this study aims to develop a standardization and classification system of senior- friendly products based on actual usages and the need to support the daily lives of the elderly. Methods For the study, we reviewed the literature on policies that support the aging population and examined the results from previous studies. We also conducted interviews to investigate the need of elderly individuals in Korea for senior friendly products. First, we studied the literature on senior friendly products and we also looked at previous studies in order to guide our research direction and identify the areas for analysis. Second, we conducted interviews with elderly individuals who attend senior welfare centers to evaluate their daily living abilities, their senior-friendly product use, and their need for senior-friendly products in their residential space. Third, we conducted a comparison analysis using the classification system of senior-friendly products in living spaces based on previous studies. In addition, we analyzed the policies for the aging population and examined their daily living abilities and actual usages and need for senior friendly products among the elderly. Results We investigated the existing classification system of senior-friendly products used in daily life and analyzed the need for senior-friendly products used in different areas of the home. We found several interesting results. First, there is a need to support not only elderly individuals’ physical activities, but also their social activities. Second, elderly individuals’perceived abilities to perform daily activities varied among different gender and age groups. This finding has the implication for the development of senior-friendly products that address different groups of elderly people. Third, senior-friendly products require classification system based on living space areas, and by daily living abilities by age group and gender, and the products should be developed and supported based on the classification in order to support independent living and assisted living in care facilities. Conclusions This study established a classification system for senior friendly products to support the daily activities of the elderly in Korea. In addition, the study contributes to improving the social activities of the elderly.