Leisure Activities of the Elderly & Cognitive Health in Geyonggi Province

A survey was conducted to examine the status of leisure activities among the elderly and to seek policy proposals to support leisure activities in terms of cognitive health. A survey on the status of leisure activities was conducted in 3,500 elderly people aged ≥65 years, living in Gyeonggi-do, in the form of one-on-on interviews from June 16 to July 17, 2021. The population was set based on the current output areas and number of households in Gyeonggi-do by the National Statistics Office, and the sample was extracted into 10 layers considering region, gender, and age. The most common leisure activity for the elderly aged ≥65 years was rest (73.4%), and the percentage of respondents who performed activities alone (38.7%) without companions was the highest. The most frequent participation in leisure activities was “several times a week,” and the average leisure expenditure per session was 11,122 won. During the leisure activity period, most (98.9%) of the respondents were more than one year old , and the proportion of use of religious facilities and other facilities, such as open spaces, was high. Regarding satisfaction with leisure activities, the response rate for “general satisfaction” (58.0%) was the highest. The most desired leisure activity was tourism (28.9%), followed by hobby entertainment (23.35%), and rest (17.6%). Only 0.7% of the respondents participated in volunteer activities, and the reason for not participating that had the highest percentage of response is “not interested” (45.2%). In Gyeonggi-do, 99.3% of the smartphone or cell phone users did not have Internet access, and the utilization rates of text reception (93.3%) and transmission (83.1%) were the highest . The economic expenditure burden (3.41 points) was the most common factor interrupting leisure activities, followed by climate condition (3.34 points) and lack of time (2.92 points). Active leisure activities relieve loneliness in old age, improve physical and cognitive health, and help maintain social relationships. Considering the geographical and physical limitations of the elderly, it is necessary to consider an alternative for managing cognitive health through the development of leisure content using electronic devices. In addition, the motivation of the elderly and the development of leisure careers are necessary, along with the role of the public domain in designing various community-centered programs.