探索臺灣老人老化經驗與生活品質的不同面向

Abstract

台灣老年人口比例已在82年超過7%，達世界衛生組織高齡化社會定義，並在107年達14.5%，進入高齡社會。於國際間亦屬老化速度快速之國家。內政部統計處106年生命簡易表顯示台灣民眾平均壽命為80.4歲，男性77.3歲、女性83.7歲；生命歷程日趨延長，老年生活品質提升為當代重要課題。本研究共收集36位60歲以上長者。來源有社區、街頭、養老院。地點主要為北部區域，包含台北市、新北市、基隆市。前驅研究包含參與四個月的社區觀察，與非正式訪談。研究採深度訪談與觀察法。 本研究描繪不同性別、年齡層、職業、社經地位之老人進入60歲以上的身心經驗，最低60歲，最高101歲，採變異度最大抽樣法選取樣本。運用質性研究紮根理論，經沉浸（immersion）與萃取（crystallization）方式整理文字稿，抽取出來的主題主要為老化定義（心理、生理層面）、個性、適應、社交（含對象與目的）、靈性（含宗教、生命意義、生命目標、生活重心）；良好老化重要認知：個體性、視老化為一階段、肯定；影響老年生活重要因素：經濟、年齡與性別、居住環境。訪綱與訪談衍生自老化理論、老年人生活品質等文獻與前驅研究構成的研究架構，佐以相關文獻。並以良好老化（aging well）做為橋樑與核心，盼本研究能提供當局、個人、照顧者對於老年生命的理解。 結論為一、不同長輩會有不同良好老化經驗，應了解與傾聽其性格、生長背景脈絡、現在背景（如經濟、年齡性別、居住環境）。二、不同長輩會有不同良好老化經驗，應了解與傾聽其性格、生長背景脈絡、現在背景（如經濟、年齡性別、居住環境）。三、需有足夠經濟基礎、居住環境，佐以適當社交與靈性需求。並注意資源可近性。四、協助其自主適應：視老化為一階段、個體性、肯定。五、身體與認知的健康依舊首當重要 關鍵詞：生活品質；老；高齡；老化；活躍老化；成功老化；良好老化；適應

The proportion of people older than 65 years old in Taiwan has exceeded 7% in 1993, reaching the definition of the aging society of the World Health Organization, and reached 14.5% in 2018, entering the aged society, which is one of the fasted-aging societies in the world. The 2017 life table of the Statistics Department of the Ministry of the Interior shows that the average life of Taiwanese is 80.4 years old, 77.3 years for men and 83.7 years for women. The life course is prolonging and the quality of life of the elderly is really an important issue. A total of 36 older adults over 60 years were collected from communities, streets, and nursing homes in northern Taiwan, including Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Keelung City. The pilot study included four months of community observation and informal interview. We used in-depth interviews and observations in this qualitative study. This study depicts physical and mental experiences of the older adults over 60 years with different genders, age groups, occupations, and socioeconomic status. The minimum age is 60 years and the highest is 101 years. With maximum variation sampling, we used grounded theories, immersion and crystallization to analyze contents. The themes are subjective aging (Including psychological and physical view), personality, adaptation, social (Including object and purpose), spirituality (Including religion, life meaning, life purpose, life focus); important concept distributing aging well: individuality, knowing aging is a stage, affirmation; important factors affecting the life of the older people: economic status, age and gender, living environment. The interviews were derived from the framework consisting of literatures about aging theory, quality of life of older adults and pilot study, and related literature. With ‘aging well’ as a bridge and core, I hope that this study can provide the authorities, individuals, and caregivers with an understanding of old age. The conclusion is that, first, the different elders will have different experiences of ‘aging well’. People should understand their personality, life course, and current background (such as economic status, age, gender, living environment). Second, it is necessary to ensure older adults have enough economic basis, living environment, and appropriate social and spiritual satisfaction. And pay attention to the availability of resources. Third, the concept to assist their autonomous adaptation: knowing aging is a new stage, individuality, and affirmation. Last, the health of the body and cognition is still the first important. Keywords: quality of life; aging; old age; active aging; successful aging; aging well; adaptation