The health status and needs of community elderly living alone.

The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics, physical health status, mental health status, social supports, health needs, and social services utilization among community elderly living alone. The relationship between demographic data, mental health status, and social supports for the community elderly living alone was also examined. A cross sectional survey was conducted. Five hundred and twenty community elderly living alone were selected by systematic random sampling from Taipei City. A total of 320 subjects aged 65 and over completed the face to face interview. A structured questionnaire developed by the authors was used to collect the data. The contents of the questionnaire included demographic data, life style, physical health status, mental health status, social supports, social services utilization and health needs. The results showed that most of the subjects were male, aged 65-74, with religion and satisfied with life and economic status. Most of the subjects had more than one chronic disease. The most frequently reported diagnosis was arthritis, followed by hypertension and osteoporosis. The self-reported physical, mental health status and social supports among the majority of subjects were good. Financially subsidized medical services, free health examination and home visits by public health nurses were the most frequently used services. The most imperative health needs among the community elderly living alone were medical services, financial subsidy and arrangement of the leisure activity setting. The associated factors of mental health status and social supports were explored and discussed. The results of this study could be used to develop comprehensive health services and health education programs for the community elderly living alone.