ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study were to investigate the independent ADL (Activities of Daily Living) level of elderly people using a questionnaire made up of a mobility scale, two basic ADL measurement tools, and an instrumental ADL measurement tool, and to differentiate between the levels according to various performance environments.The subjects were elderly people (over 60 years) who live in Wonju City (pop.240,000). A survey tool made up of 110 items was used for this study and the quiestionnaire was completed by 7 investigators who interviewed the respondents at gatherings for the elderly. The results were analyzed according to gender, 3 age groups (60-69, 70-75, and over 76), comfortable position preference (floor sitting or chair sitting), and housing type (detached house or apartment) by non parametric statistics, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.The results were as follows:1. According to age group, basic ADL dependence level was not significantly different in ‘cleaning house’, ‘travelling’, ‘street crossing’, ‘hospital visiting’, and ‘walking around’. Women were more significantly dependent than men in instrumental ADL: ‘going to the post office’, ‘driving’, and ‘street crossing’, but without significant difference of dependence level in basic ADL.2. According to position pattern, dependence level was not significantly different for ‘face washing’, ‘hair washing’ or ‘foot washing’. At rest, people sitting on the floor were more dependent in instrumental ADL items only for ‘shopping’ and ‘attending religious services’. People living in detached houses reported significantly more difficulty using the toilet than those in apratments.3. The most sensitive items for evaluating functional independence of the elderly were: ‘using the telephone’, ‘face washing’, ‘hair washing’, ‘foot washing’, and ‘bottle opening’ in basic ADL, and ‘hospital visiting’, ‘travelling’, and ‘street crossing’ in instrumental ADL. The Cronbach α value of mobility, basic ADL, instrumental ADL were 0.87, 0.86, and 0.91, respectively.To evaluate the ADL of old age, we have to use evaluation tools suitable to the Korean culture. The most useful items were ‘telephone use’, ‘face washing’, ‘hair washing’, ‘foot washing’, ‘bottle opening’ in basic ADL, and ‘hospital visiting’, ‘travelling’, and ‘street crossing’ in instrumental ADL. Especially, instrumental ADL is more valuable than basic ADL in evaluating old age. It is more important in evaluating the practical aspects of life in old age to consider housing and living patterns because there are some ADL items which are affected by comfortablesitting preference and housing style.