A RESEARCH OF THE HOT SPRING SERVICE FOR THE AGED LIVING IN REMOTE SNOW FALL REGION

This research focused on the potential of the welfare service for the aged by using local hot spring in remote snowfall region in Hokkaido. The daily going out and social interaction behaviors of 42 aged people who take the service were investigated. As a result following things were found. 1: 20% of purposes of going out is to take the service. 2: This service reduces the number of people in the category of "have hardly meet with local acquaintances" in their daily life, and gives a chance to communicate with people in the hot spring.