[Developing the checklist for at-risk elderly requiring assistance from comprehensive community care support center]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Social Work

Context:

• Area Comprehensive Support Centers are crucial for identifying elderly individuals not accessing medical or long-term care.
• Preventative measures are vital to avert health crises and social isolation among seniors.
• Early identification of at-risk elderly facilitates timely intervention and support services.

Purpose:

• To develop and validate an
• At-Risk Elderly Checklist
• ,
• to aid community members in reporting at-risk seniors to Area Comprehensive Support Centers.

Summary:

• A preliminary study involved interviews with 29 professionals from 17 Area Comprehensive Support Centers.
• Based on findings and existing tools, 23 items were developed, and a survey of 109 professionals examined content validity.
• Factor analysis identified 5 factors with 19 items, leading to a 14-item checklist validated for detecting at-risk elderly.

Impact:

• The validated checklist can effectively identify elderly individuals at risk of serious health crises.
• Early detection facilitates timely access to necessary medical and long-term care services.
• This tool supports Area Comprehensive Support Centers in proactive elder care and preventing isolated deaths.