This study aimed to model and examine the relationship between the factors influencing the adaptation ability and life satisfaction of the elderly people living in long-term care facilities. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design and relation prediction modeling. Participants were 229 older adults over 65 years old, who had lived for more than six months in the long-term care facilities of the Gyeonggi and Gyeongsang provinces, South Korea. The model construction was based on the Ecological model developed by Lawton (1982). The data were included demographics, physical health status, emotional health status, self-efficacy, and social support. The analysis of collected data was done by using the SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0 programs. The model fit index for the modified model was χ2 = 15.561, χ2/df = 2.223, GFI = 0.980, AGFI = 0.920, NFI = 0.967, CFI = 0.970, and RMRS = 0.018, RMSEA = 0.021. Life satisfaction was influenced by the factors of adaptation, depression, anxiety, friend support, self-efficacy, and staff support. In addition, adaptation was affected by the factors of staff support, depression, anxiety, and friend support. This study suggests that life satisfaction and adaptation for Korean elderly in long-term facilities were primarily influenced by of the factors of anxiety, depression, friend support, and staff support. In the nursing practice, nurses need to pay attention to these factors to improve the life satisfaction and adaptation ability of Korean elderly in long-term facilities.
Keywords: adaptation; aged; life satisfaction; long-term care facility.