Home Management Performance and Problem of Rural Elderly Living Alone

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association 2000;38(3):85-97.

농촌 노인단독가구의 가정경영 실태와 문제

채옥희

원광대학교 가정관리학과

Home Management Performance and Problem of Rural Elderly Living Alone

채옥희

ABSTRACT

The goal of this study is mainly to improve the quality of life for the elderly by understanding the actual condition of the home management which includes their family relationship, family finance, and household work carried out in their domestic lives and diagnosing problems possibly restated from the condition. The result includes the following. The characteristics of rural elderly living alone: They have lived in rural area since their marriage which is over 40 years long in average, The tend to be satisfied with living apart themselves. The majority of the families are the first son in their family. In home management regard: First, in family relationship, the way the elderly in their nuclear family state communicate with their spouse is limited, and they hardly speaks together. So it is encouraged for couples to forge their own specific relationship and to plan for their odd age in their younger age. Also, they tend to be satisfied with living separated from their children, but at the same time, the closer they live in distance from their children, the more often they meet their children as well as they talk on the phone. They especially depend on their first son for offerings for ancestors and matters to occur after their death, while they get emotional support from daughters. Second, in family finance, their income varies in range from 200,000 to 3,000,000 won. In the majority f the famines, the wives are in charge of finance. The cost of living is mainly spent on flood, clothing, and housing, or the cost of offerings for ancestors if they are the head family. Third, Meanwhile, the housewives under 70 years old are positive about household work and tend to consider it pleasant for their children and their husband. Generally, the older they are, the more they dislike household labor. For example, food preparation is especially considered a major problem. Community dinning rooms, food delivery service, volunteers, and home helper and neighborhood could be help.