Safety practices of older women in three Korean apartment complexes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify whether the residential environments of Korean women age 65 and older living in apartments were safe for them. In order to accomplish the purpose, this study focused on the safety practices of older Korean women in their daily activities.

The sample of 90 older women was selected from the residents living in three apartment complexes of Kang-Nam and Kang-Dong areas in Seoul, Korea. The data were collected through survey questionnaires, which had been pretested, and revised based on Tomlinson's instrument. The survey instrument measured perception of safety hazards, safety features, safety precautions, and intended modifications/assistance. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentage, and means as descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis.

The average age of the sample was 73.5 years old. Most of the respondents were in good health. The majority of the sample lived with the family of their adult child. Most of them received money from their children. Most of the dwelling units were owned by their child. The majority of the sample lived in dwelling units located below the ninth floor.