| BackgroundAlong with the wide spread of the aging in the world, the longevity problem caused the concern of the international community. The determinants of longevity are complicated. Athough the wide and in-depth research on health of the elderly has laid a good foundation for the future it is inadequate. Based on developed countries, international studies, especially some measurements of health, were not totally applicable to our country The domestic study mainly focuses on describing the health status and analysing its determinants, without clear definitions of the risk factors and protective factors. With problems such as fewer samples and health indicators, lack of representation, and unspecific analysis, regional projects often lead to conclusions with regional limits.Shandong Province entered into the aging society In 1994, six years earlier than the whole country. Now the aging process of Shandong province has entered a rapid development period. Although a province with the biggest elderly population, Shandong is lack of studies on the health of the elderly population, without large-scale sampling, scientific research, and special investigations involved the elderly health indicators. Existed research were mostly small range of investigation and study, lack of representation. Our challenge is how to safeguard and promote the elderly health standards, to extend the life expectancy, to enhance their self-care ability, to reduce the stress of the medical and health services, and to establish a healthy and harmonious society for the elderly population.Aim and ContentThe general purpose of this paper is to analyze the health status and its determinants of the elderly people in Shandong Province, and make effective measures to promote the longevity and health of the old people. to achieve a healthy aging.The specific studies aim at:First, to collect necessary basic data and the questionnaire data, from the three dimensions of the population made by the World Health Organization, to analysis the health status of the elderly in Shandong Province:physical health, mental health, and social adaptation situation.Second, to further analyze the social, behavioral, environmental factors and their internal mechanisms which influce the longevity.Third, to discern the favourable factors and risky factors of the health of the elderly population in Shandong province.Fourth, by promoting the favourable factors and controlling the risky factors, to help the old people be away from the health risks, improve the health standard, and to provide a comprehensive and effective measures.The study includes:Frist, the physical health, mental health, and social adaptation situation of the elderly population in Shandong Province.Second, the ability of daily life and its determinants of the elderly population in Shandong Province.Third, the economic burden of diseases and its determinants of the elderly people in Shandong Province.Fourth, the loneliness and satisfaction of living and their determinants of the elderly people in Shandong Province.Fifth, the strategies to promote the health of the elderly people in Shandong Province.MethodsMain methods:questionnaire survey, cases interview, policy analysis,ect.First, use the demography of health and health care and medical sociological theory in the design of the whole project and the questionnaire.Second, use the questionnaire about "The Status of The Elderly People in Shandong Province" which conducted by Shandong Provincial Committee on Aging. Shandong Statistics Bureau, and Shandong Normal University. The survey in Shandong province was for the overall, the participants were the 60 years and above. involved in the province of 17 city of 30 counties, districts, municipal. Put the 5400 questionnaire into a database. Multi-stage random sampling method was used for collecting data. Based on the data of 5400 people over 60 years old in Shandong Province, we used descriptive analysis, x2 test and Logistic regression method to analyze the ability of daily life(ADL) and its determinants.Third, discussed with the elderly, the home affairs, labor security and public health departments, obtained the relevant information, made up for the interview questionnaire survey and the field of omissions, to improve the pertinence of the research.Conclusion and DiscussionThe physical health of the old people is fair. The ability of daily life(ADL) of the contemporary elderly is satisfactory. The proportion of elderly people with completely self-care ability is 82.6%.94.6%of the elderly people need not to be looked after. The main factors influenced their ability of daily life are marriage status, age. education, income, exercise, chronic diseases and the timely diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Marriage, exercise, and the medical care are the protective factors. Age, chronic disease, low-education and low-income are important risky factors. To the elderly age group, the old people who are in lack of spouses, low-income, suffered from chronic diseases are in poor ADL. There are significant differences between urban and rural areas in elderly population health, the gender difference in elderly population health is significant.The morbidity rate of chronic diseases of the old people is 81.8%. Once sick the old people mainly depend on their spouses and children to take care of, few old people depend on the external.The economic burden of diseases of the old people is enormous.Health care expenditure accounted for 28.82%in average daily life consumption. The chronic disease prevention of the elderly people is a considerable proportion in financial burden; the influence from income and health care standards to the financial burden of disease is great, The old people who are in low-income have a lower ability to pay for the medical care and have a heavier disease burden. The elderly health-care standards generally not high, medical fees are mostly paid by himself, children or relatives. We should strengthen the prevention of chronic diseases, improve health-care standards for the elderly.The elderly mental health is in a worrying situation. The old people feel loneliness were 15%, because of living alone, have no company,and children's little visit. The satisfaction of living is high,76.4%of the elderly satisfied with their living conditions, A spouse. Family filial piety, lived with son or daughter, ill treatment in time, get more exercise and play an active part in cultural and recreational activities can avoid loneliness. The old people's loneliness also influenced by ADL. The better ADL, the little loneliness.The old people need to enhance social adaptation. The old people's participation in economic activities, social activities, non-governmental organizations, cultural and recreational activities are relatively low. The proportion of the rural older people to participate in any revenue work or labour is higher than the urban. But the proportion of the rural older people to participate in social and cultural recreations is far below than the urban. The society's initiative of the rural old people is not enough. Medical care, pension insurance, ill treatment in time, more exercise and an active part in cultural activities are favourable factors for the elderly to improve the satisfaction of living. The better ADL, the better satisfaction of living.Policy RecommendationsFrist, to emphasize health education to the elderly. Educate the elderly people to establish correct health concepts. Strengthen exercise, balance diet and nutrition. Give up drinking and smoking, slowing down the living rhythm.Eliminate or reduce the risky factors for health and improve the quality of health and quality of life.Second, to pay more attention to the mental health of the elderly. All sectors of society should to carry out the material and psychological support and assistance to the elderly. Rich the elderly's physical recreation activities and provide facilities for them, to encourag the elderly to increase social contact.Third, to improve the medical security and health services system. Gradually expand the medical projects, and include in the basic medical insurance range.To establish the medical assistance systems. To establish a long-term care insurance.Fourth, to improve the rural elderly's health. Promote the new rural endowment insurance, encourage more countysides and districts to carry out there own pilot according to the state and provincial pilot policies, gradually improve the financial subsidies. Improve the New Rural Co-operative Medical System. Strengthen primary health sectorFifth, to use the function of the family completely. Encourage and support the family to play a greater role in the health care for the old people, develop a traditional virtue of respecting the elderly, maintaining a harmonious family relationship. The aged should also attach great importance to promote family health, to promote a stable and harmonious marriage. Give a remarriage guidance and advice to those who loss of his spouse's.Sixth, to develop the services and facilities for the elderly rationally, rich the culture activities for the elderly. Elderly service facilities include the necessary health care, pension organizations, and the sities. to meet the growing numbers demand of the elderly people.Seventh, to use the role of the community fully to promote the elderly health. Conduct health education and guide the elderly to establish healthy actions rely on community;Develop health care providers for the elderly, and provid health services for the elderly rely on community; Provide the health management and service for the elderly also rely on the community.Eighth, to form the social atmosphere and culture to respect to the elderly in the whole society. Promote the Chinese tradition, love and real concern for the elderly at the material and spiritual level, Safeguard the rights and interests of the elderly, Eliminate discrimination and maltreatment to the old people, Form the young and family harmony civilization atmosphere.
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