| Summary: | 博士 === 國立成功大學 === 建築學系碩博士班 === 96 === The growing concern over an aging population has become the most critical issue in examining how the community organization provides community care for the elderly and empowers the elderly to develop their own autonomous networks of assistance. This research focused on the role of the community organization in promoting integrated services for the elderly and the importance of social network and support for them.
The literature review explores issues relevant to the participation of the community organization in the supplying of home and community-based services for the elderly. Moreover, it addresses the needs of the elderly such as the provision of proper care services, social network and support. This study proposes a theory of the participation of community organization and its impact on the supply and demand of elderly care services. This theory helps us to understand the correlation between the supply and demand of elderly services in Chang Jung community. It serves as a reference for carrying out further research on this topic.
This analysis focuses on the case study of Chang Jung community in Tainan city. It discusses the provision of leisure and care services for the elderly in existing community activity centers in last three years. Furthermore, the expansion of urban services increases the participation of community organization in the support of community-oriented social welfare.
The three principles of motivating community organization to participate in the provision of proper elderly care services are discussed in the literature review. Based on these three principles, the Chang Jung community launched a ten-month elderly care program in year 2004. The program is called “Ensuring A Better Quality of Life for the Elderly”. In addition to providing high quality volunteer services, the continuity of service provision and the enhancement of the autonomy of the elderly should also be integrated. The goal of designing this program is to call for more integrated, comprehensive, and community-based services.
A well-designed questionnaire is used effectively to compare the utilization rate of community-based services, social network structure with the regular outdoor leisure activities for the elderly from 2004 to 2006. Results of the questionnaire show that the provision of integrated services promotes the formation of social network and support for the elderly. Most importantly, this integrated service enhances the quality of outdoor activities, the establishment of acquaintance network in a short period of time, the development of cross acquaintance network, the compensation of inadequate family care, the promotion of multi-faceted social support, and the significance of the multiple roles of community volunteers.
The final part of the analysis concentrates on the formation of social network which provides the basis for the development of a community-based service network. According the Principle of Participation, the importance of a community-based service network should also be taken into account. Moreover, social support should put emphasis on the continuity of service provision. Thus, the results have shown clearly the supply and demand for integrated services for the elderly.
In conclusion, the current research explores the importance of supply and demand of elderly care services in its existing community. The community organization not only plays a part in providing basic services for the elderly, but also plays an irreplaceable role of promoting integrated services to assist the elderly age in place. This paper also serves as a foundation for continuous improvement in elderly care services and further discussion on this topic.
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