[Recommendation of using a registering type GPS and a heart rate monitor for walking instructions in the elderly].

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of exercise for health promotion depends on the protocol. We examined the possibility of determining the characteristics of walking (route, speed and work intensity) with a registering type GPS and a heart rate monitor. We also demonstrated the effects of giving a walking regimen utilizing the data on characteristics of walking. METHODS: Route, speed, and heart rate during the walking of 24 elderly habitual walkers were estimated with a memory-type GPS apparatus and a heart rate monitor, respectively. The elderly were instructed to modify the route and/or speed of walking according to the data. RESULTS: 1) The walking speeds for male and female subjects increased from 91.8 +/- 12.8 m/min to 97.3 +/- 12.2 m/min and 81.4 +/- 9.7 m/min to 85.6 +/- 7.0 m/min, respectively (P<0.05). 2) The average work intensity estimated by% HRR during the walking increased from 37.0 +/- 10.5% to 48.6 +/- 8.9% and 34.9 +/- 13.4% to 47.7 +/- 8.8%, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of a GPS apparatus and a heart rate monitor is effective in determining characteristics of walking and facilitates giving effective instructions for health promotion to the elderly with a habit of walking.

Factors affecting satisfaction levels of Japanese volunteers in meal delivery services for the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting satisfaction with volunteer work of participants in a meal delivery service for the elderly. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study with a self-administered survey was carried out. SAMPLE: Of 364 volunteers assisting with a meal delivery service for the elderly in rural towns A (80), B (159), and C (125), 247 responded (response rate: 68%). METHOD: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was administered seeking information about basic attributes, sense of satisfaction with volunteer work, and working circumstances such as human relationships with fellow volunteers, meal service users or professional staff members, opportunities for meetings or workshop, publicity through public relations magazines, and the like. RESULTS: In multivariate logistic analysis, the sense of satisfaction of volunteers was closely associated with human relations among volunteers (odds ratio [OR] 5.15, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.84-14.40, p<.01), meal service users (OR 3.84, 95% CI 1.37-10.77, p<.05), and professional staff members supervising the meal delivery service (OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.27-9.84, p<.05). Human relations were also affected by the emphasis on communication, consultation with supervisory staff members, having opportunities for meetings, having friends with whom to confer, and publicity through public relations magazines. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction levels of volunteers in meal delivery services for the elderly were most affected by human relations with fellow volunteers, meal service users, and professional staff members. Increasing opportunities for communication may be important to promote good human relationships among volunteers and volunteer activities.

[Volunteers' recognition of problems in meal distribution service and their expectation for information concerning health and welfare in less-favoured areas].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify problems perceived by volunteers of a meal distribution service (MDS) in Less-Favoured Areas and the content of information expected to be provided by the administration and social welfare council. METHODS: We chose three municipalities (A, B, and C) with a population of less than 4,000 and an elderly population rate of 25% or higher. Volunteers involved in MDS in the municipalities were 28, 11, and 22 people in A, B, and C, respectively. We interviewed each group after explaining our purpose in writing, and made word-for-word records. Survey items were as follows; what you try and aim to do, what is your burden and pleasure, what are your problems and the solutions, and what are your demands for future activity in the MDS. The study period was from March to November, 2003. RESULTS: The information that the volunteers expected the administration and social welfare council to provide encompassed 3 categories, each of which contained 2 subcategories. They expected (information to allow elderly people to use the service on their own initiative> and as [information to improve understanding of the users and residents about the aims and contents of the MDS], and as [information to ensure the quality and quantity of volunteers], and and as [information to improve the relationships between the volunteers and users]. CONCLUSIONS: The volunteers expected education to improve the understanding of the residents so that elderly people can use the MDS on their own initiative, recruiting of motivated volunteers to ensure continuation of the service, and support for the smooth execution of the service and a system for such support. These were perceived by the subjects as problems to be solved for effective implementation of the service, and are considered to represent the meaning and state of the MDS that the volunteers wanted to share with the administration, social welfare council, and residents. The information that should be shared among the administration, social welfare council, residents, and volunteers can be clarified by evaluation of the expectations of the volunteers which must be met to promote their cooperation to support the service.