Evaluating effectiveness of Wel-Tech Programs for Older People Living in Public Silver Housing: A Pilot Study on Developing a Community Care Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of Wel-Tech programs as a pilot study on developing a community care model for older people living in public silver housing. More specifically, Wel-Tech based community care services the current research suggests focus on improving physical functions, cognitive functions, and psychological stability for older people. To evaluate effectiveness of services, the non-equivalent control group design with pretest-posttest was used, and two experimental groups and one control group was assigned based on service contents. The differences between the experimental group 1 (n=9) and 2 (n=9) were based on whether participants receive Wel-Tech programs or not, and those between the experimental group and the control group (n=19) were based on whether participants receive community care services or not. Older people assigned to the experimental groups participated in community care service programs for three months and all participants responded to survey questions before and after the program. Findings indicated that participants in the experimental group 1 are more likely than the experimental group 2 and the control group to show improved depression level, memory, and cognitive functions. Participants in the experimental group 1 also showed better life satisfaction and maintained physical functions while the experimental group 2 and the control group deteriorated. This study is meaningful in that the application of Wel-Tech in the community care model can maximize the effectiveness of service programs and findings suggest new directions to traditional elderly welfare services taking into account the changing times.