Abstract
This study is designed to identify the changes of the elderly's residential environment and life satisfaction in rural area during the past 20 years. Data from the survey of Ministry of Health and Welfare conducted in 1994, 1998, 2004, 2008, and 2014 were used for the analysis. The subjects of the study included a sample of 11,019 respondents who represent aged 65 and older in Korea rural area. The result of analysis indicated that; First, the average age of the rural elderly continuously increased and the rural elderly that hope to live with their grown-up children gradually declined. It means that the social responsibility of supporting the elderly is steadily expanding. Second, the ratio of rural elderly living with their children is decreased from 43% in 1994 to 11% in 2014, whereas the single elderly household who are living alone or living with spouse increased. And more elderly live with married children in order to help their children rather than receiving help from them. Third, the frequency of intercourse with their children tended to decline gradually, in contrast with communication frequency with them mounted steadily during the past few decades. Finally, the factors influencing the life satisfaction of rural elderly was health status, economic level, child relationship with them, and residential environment.
