지역사회 재가노인의 돌봄서비스에 대한 독거노인과 비독거노인의 경험: 초점집단면담 연구

Experiences of Community-dwelling Elderly Living alone or with Their Families Regarding Community Care Services: Thematic Analysis and Focus Group Interviews

Purpose: This study was intended to gain an in-depth understanding of and explored the experiences and meanings of participating in care services among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A focus group interview approach was adopted. Twenty older adults were interviewed from November to December 2021 using semi-structured interview questions. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes and seven sub-themes emerged for the elderly people living alone. One main theme was “ambivalence of elderly care services,” the second was “desperate need for care services,” and the third was “positive changes and expectations experienced with care services.” For the elderly people living with their families, two main themes and four sub-themes were identified. One main theme was “care services met within the family system,” the second was “needs for care services outside the family system.” Conclusion: We aim to provide a basis for strengthening the quality of elderly community care services in the mid- to long-term and establish a system of close linkages between necessary services by understanding the needs of elderly people who live alone or with their families.