A Study on Middle-Aged People's Preparation for Old Age Life and Their Perception of Long-term Care Facilities

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The study was to get basic data on the well-being of middle-aged people concerning their preparation for their upcoming old age and their quality of life. METHODS: The subjects were 440 people aged between 40 and 59 living in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. RESULTS: First, physical preparation for old age was affected by religion, children, health, monthly income, and economical status, and these factors were shown statistically significant. Emotional preparation and spiritual preparation were also related to the above-mentioned factors. Secondly, in the subjects' mental picture, a nursing home was a place for the aged without anyone who is going to take care of them and without abilities to care of themselves. Preference for nursing home was based on two factors, i.e., nursing and treatment care, and the cost was about one million won per month. Also they wanted that the government should pay a certain amount for private users. CONCLUSION: Therefore, people should lead a life of good health-related habits along with economical preparation for their old age.