The health status and health promotion behavior of low-income elderly in the Taipei area.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand health promotion behaviors and their correlated factors among low-income elderly in the Taipei area. This study used a cross-sectional design with a descriptive correlation approach. A total of 89 low-income elderly from Peitou District of Taipei participated in the study. Structured questionnaires, the primary sources of measurement, were read to study subjects by a trained research assistant. The mean age of low-income elderly in the study was 76.85 year-old. A plurality were single (41.6%) and 31.5% lived alone. Subject IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living) were not as good as their ADLs (activities of daily living). Their psychosocial health status was worse than their physical health status. Among health promotion behaviors, regular exercise appears to be the most prevalent. The most significant factor among subjects for failing to follow health-promoting behaviors was their IADLs. Homebound elderly who lived alone and had poor IADL were less likely to have health promoting behaviors. A proposal to encourage health promotion behaviors for low-income elderly derived from study results is the initiation of formal personal assistance programs to remedy the inability of many elderly, especially those living alone, to leave the home due to ADL-related or other limitations.