• 한국노년학
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.25-48
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• 2021

This study intended to examine the willingness to use as well as necessary functions for ICT-based care assistance devices in older adults living alone. A total of 241 older adults living alone from a city participated in the study. Study results show that many older adults living alone are willing to use ICT-based care assistance devices at their home and the functions of care assistance devices that they perceived as necessary were diverse. In addition, there were differences in perception of functional necessity by socio-demographics and medical and functional characteristics of older adults living alone. In particular, there were significant differences in the functions perceived as necessary according to the presence of osteoporosis, depression, insomnia, and limitations in daily activities. Our study findings suggest that the functions of ICT-based care devices should be developed in various ways in order to help healthy aging in place. Findings also imply that it is necessary to provide individualized services and customized care assistance devices according to individual's medical and functional characteristics and needs.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.525-540
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• 2012

The study aimed to investigate the current status and policy issues of senior clubs, focusing on the senior employment programs in South Korea. The current status of senior clubs was reviewed based on their legal basis, organization, project type, finance, project performance, and operational difficulties(low revenue yields, high labor intensity and low wages, lack of funding, weakness in provision of a legal basis, etc.). The policy directions of such clubs were also defined as follows: (1) establishment of the role of senior clubs(a local senior center of job creation projects, an execution entity of business senior employment programs matching the regional characteristics, and a center for community change through the promotion of awareness of the problems of and related to the elderly and through empowerment of the elderly); (2) improvement of the quality of jobs(need-based and sustainable job creation, quality improvement in education, improvement of the elderly practitioners' working conditions, and collaboration and partnerships among the public-private sectors); and (3) legislation and amendment of senior employment programs.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness of job task importance and performance of occupational therapists in the community care system for the elderly. Methods : We conducted an online questionnaire survey of 152 occupational therapists nationwide from May 31, to June 24, 2019. General characteristics and institutional awareness, role and performance awareness were analyzed by descriptive statistics. One way ANOVA were conducted to compare the differences of working days, working places, and the field of work. Results : The recognition of the community care system for the elderly was low at 2.93 ± 1.0 but the importance of the community care system was 3.94 ± 0.7 and the importance of the occupational therapist in the system was 4.34 ± 0.7. Fall prevention (4.63 ± 0.7) was the most important in occupational therapist's jobs, and performance was high in instrumental activity daily living training (3.94 ± 0.8) and physical function training (3.94 ± 0.8). Conclusion : This study can be presented as basic data on job task importance and performance awareness of occupational therapists in the elderly community care system. In addition, it is expected to be used as basic data for establishing the role of occupational therapist in the elderly community care system.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.711-732
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to understand the meaning and essence of aged life, which Korean elderly experience in real life and restructure them in the context of time and culture. In order to do so an in-depth interview was done with 15 elderlies over the age of 60 living in Hwaseong City, an urban-rural composite area in Gyeonggi Province where diverse elderlies could be found. In result, first, Korean elderly's understanding of aged life had physical, familial, economical, leisure, and social restoration aspects. Second, it was found that the degree of understanding about preparation for aging and preparedness is quite low. Third, as the gap between actual preparation for aging and aged life that elderly dreamed of became wider 'resentment on children', 'denial of reality', 'physical and economical change', and 'experience from prolongation of life-cycle' was found. Based on such results following suggestions could be made. First, the awareness of aged life and preparation for aging should be strengthened and there is a need for diverse educations aiming successful aged life. Second, elderly welfare policy and practical intervention with an integrated perspective based on the realm of life-cycle are demanded. Third, there is a need to strengthen the Aged Income Maintenance System for existing elder generation. Fourth, an intervention about adaptation and coping means of life event is needed. Lastly, there is a need to expand and carry out the aged life planning program for future elder generation.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.761-779
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• 2020

This study is a qualitative study applied with in-depth interviews and phenomenological analysis. The objective of this study was finding out the function of the elder protection agency by interpreting the meaning developed from the experience of the workers about the role of the elder protective service agency. As a result of the analysis, the essential themes were 'Struggling and working hard', 'Obstacles that cannot be lifted', and 'Reaching the time to be reborn as an organization for the elderly human rights.' The common essence of these themes is 'The road to human rights orientation: a destination that must be reached, though not easy to go.' In order for the meanings to be settled and to fit in to the community, it was suggested it is a situation in which both internal and external renewal of the institution for the protection of the elderly is most needed. In addition, much as it turned out that legal and institutional support must be provided so that the elder protection agency can be reborn as human rights organizations with more professionalism, it was proposed to follow the institutional improvement plan derived from this study.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.559-565
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• 2022

As South Korea has become an aged society, the dementia rate has also been increasing. With the introduction of both de-institutionalization and community care in 2017, the importance of community-based care has increased. Perspectives on dementia have also been shifting from the medical model and social model to the person-centered model. This paper suggests ways to improve dementia service through analyzing the dementia knowledge of care-givers at ADS. The paper includes an FGI with the care-givers who have worked for more than 2 years. Based on such FGI, the paper draws sub-themes from 7 areas. Among the suggestions for improvement are: community-based service with daily routine practice, improving awareness of dementia for co-living, and person-centered service based on individuality and diverseness.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.179-196
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors impacting fear of dementia, targeting the aged in the community. The study targeted 258 seniors aged 65 or older attending the senior college or using the senior citizen community center in areas of Jeollannam-do. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and a stepwise multiple linear regression. Fear of dementia of the aged showed significant positive correlations with dementia anxiety, and aged anxiety. dementia anxiety, aged anxiety, dementia experience, use of a hearing aid, religion, level of dementia interest were significant predictors influencing fear of dementia of aged in the community, and these variables accounted for 37.2% of the variance. Therefore, this study suggests that in order to p revent fear of dementia of aged people in the primary health care setting, it is necessary to have a nurse's assessment on the factors affecting dementia as well as a multi-faceted education strategy for proper recognition of dementia.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.389-411
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• 2012

A new era of research has focused on examining the growth of change in drinking problems among the elderly. Thus, the purpose of the present study was two fold: (1) to investigate trajectories of drinking problems(CAGE) among the Korean elderly(age$${\geq_-}65$$); and (2) to identify the predicting factors for the intercept and the slope of alcohol problems using multi-level growth curve model. Data come from three waves(1st wave(2006)~3rd wave(2008) of the Korea Welfare Panel(KWP) study. The results indicated that the levels of drinking problems decreased over time and that age, gender, marital status, religion, poverty, self-rated health, and social relationship satisfaction were associated with the baseline CAGE. Further analysis showed that social relationship satisfaction affected the declining slope of drinking problems over time. Specifically, among those who satisfied social relationship, there was a sharp decline of CAGE over time. Overall findings highlight the importance of developing and implementing effective alcohol prevention programs for the elderly in the community settings to mitigate the harmful effects of various psycho-social stressors. Especially, programs to maintain and form healthy social support network are suggested as critical interventions for prevention as well as recovery of alcohol problems in late life.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.242-253
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• 2016

Purpose: This research aims to understand the perceptions of nursing homes from the perspective of the elderly, explores the themes of such perception and provides supporting evidence for developing nursing intervention that focuses on the subjects of care within nursing homes. Methods: This research is based on qualitative research in a phenomenological methodology. The research participants included elders aged 67~83 living at home in Jeonnam, Jeonbuk Provinces and G City. Data collection methodologies included in-depth interviews and observation of participants. The data were analyzed in the phenomenological methodology by Colaizzi. Results: As a result of the research, it was found that all significant statements about the Korean elders' perception of nursing homes fell within 3 categories with 9 major themes and 23 minor themes. The three observed categories for the Korean elders' perception on nursing homes were: 'places they do not like to be in', 'places they have to be in' and 'places that makes them feel fortunate as they have a place to go'. Conclusion: This research provides foundational tools that will provide a steer for changes in nursing environment, physiological support, programs and education so that the needs of the elderly can be met more sufficiently.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.175-199
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• 2007

The study analyzes the characteristics, work stress, satisfaction and attitudes toward dementia of social care work force for dependent elders in Korea. Data were from 502 staffs including social workers, nurses, and direct care workers from 45 diverse type of nursing facilities in Busan and Daegu area. The results of the analysis indicate that they are low paid and overloaded in general. The respondents espoused highly hopeful and person-centered attitudes toward dementia and the elderly, while they showed low level of satisfaction related to work. The stress levels were higher in sub scales concerning care tasks and physical environments in work places. In addition, the results of multiple regression denote that those have higher level of satisfaction who are nurses, have no intension to quit, have more experiences of work education, and working in facilities with more frail elders. Stresses were closely related to higher level of education and the intension to quit. Person centered attitude was more often reported by those who have more elderly clients to take care of and are working in facilities with more elders who are demented and over 80. In particular, the association was consistent between higher level of job satisfaction and the person centered attitude. Several practical suggestions linked to the analysis were made including improving the welfare for staffs working in nursing facilities and providing continuous professional training and education for them particularly on person-centered care. In addition, it was emphasized to raise the morale of social care work force considering the rapidly increasing need of long term care and the important influence that care work force has on older persons' quality of life from now on.