• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.23-41
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to explore social supports for elderly housing and their residential lives in small cities along rural counties of the United States and Canada, and suggest future implications for age-concentrated rural villages in Korea. In this study, five small and medium cities in non-metropolitan counties of California and Ontario province were visited and elderly residents and service experts were interviewed about their perceptions of community integrated social support networks for senior residences. The senior housing complexes were built due to influx of both metropolitan and rural residents seeking warm localities, traffic connections, business purposes in active production areas. and leisure attractions. There are five main social support networks for senior housing issues in these areas. First, the areas are claimed for senior zones and accordingly health industries are encouraged by local authorities. Second, the community is homogeneously constructed as a senior friendly environment and include features such as an RV park and mobile cottages. Third, senior-helping seniors are offered active work through golf-cluster active retirement communities. Fourth, traditional theme production camps are mobilized by the elderly workers. Lastly, an information system is maintained for screening volunteers and for senior abuse prevention. On the other hand, residential lives are occasionally negatively influenced by unbalanced concentrations of elderly facilities such as nursing stations and funeral homes. For the future of Korean rural elderly policies, suggestions are made as follows: first, an integrated urban and rural township that contains attractive places for early retiring people who seek a warm atmosphere in later life needs to be constructed. Second, an integrated model retirement village of urban and rural retirement life needs to be initiated as a measure of evaluating the adaptation process of movers in senior concentrated zones. Third, a cooperation system among governmental ministries needs to be formed with the long- term goal of establishing a traditional rural town of independent housing districts and medical facilities in rural areas. Fourth, productive and active lifestyles need to be maintained as the local community and government develop successful retirement rural villages, by limiting the expansion of nursing related facilities. Finally, generation integrated visiting welfare programs and services need to be further developed for the housing areas especially in the winter, when social integration and activity are relatively low.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 1999

In order to estimate the utilization pattern of a rural health subcenter, and to identify the recognition for it among the farmhouse members in a suburban area, a questionnaire survey was carried out for objects of 696 population. The results observed were as follows: The annual utilization rate of rural health subcenter for a basic health service unit was 25.0 per 100 persons, and annual mean visiting times was 0.22 times. And the most frequent disease by annual health subcenter utilization illness was musculoskeletal disease(30.6%), and the next was respiratory disease(14.1%), gastrointestinal disease(13.9%) by order. Favorite reason for community health subcenter utilization were near distance from living place(49.6%), lower disease severity(18.9%) and lower medical cost(18.1%) by order. But disfavoring reasons for it were absence of specialist(20.2%), non effective treatment(19.2%) and insufficient equipment(14.7%) by order. And insufficient items about community health subcenter utilization were restriction of treatment limit(40.7%), lower reliance(22.5%) and difficulty in traffic(13.4%) by order. The results of logistic regression analysis suggested that statistically significant factors in health subcenter utilization was educational level. The desirable works for the health subcenter in a suburban area were disease control of elderly and disease preventing service. These results suggested that to increase the utilization of rural health subcenter in a suburban area and to promote the accessibility of rural residents to primary health care, there must be considered public relation about health subcenter, improvement of medical quality and change of priority about health subcenter's works.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.181-209
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• 2018

This study aims to examine the relationship between physical environment and depression symptoms of middle-aged and older adults in metro city. To verify correlates of community environment and depression, mediating effect model structured by social capital and sense of coherence(SOC) were used. For the purpose, a survey was conducted aged 48 - 70 from the local community centers and senior welfare centers in Seoul, and the total collected cases were 331. After data cleaning, total 309 cases were used. The structured equation modeling applied to analyse the direct and indirect effects. The findings were followed : First, the community environment did not directly affect level of depression. Second, in the indirect effect analysis, social capital was not statistically significant, thus indirect effect was confirmed only through the SOC. To be specific, the higher the satisfaction of the physical environment increased SOC, and decreased the level of depression. The results of this study shed lights on practical interventions to promote mental health of the middle-aged and older adults those who are exposed to poor community environment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.2 s.61
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• pp.293-309
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to compare the level of health-related quality of life and relating factor between institutional elderly and community living elderly. The subjects were 390 from Sanatorium or Nursing home and 467 from the community in Kwangju. The results are followed : 1) A comparison of ADL between two groups, institutional elderly and community living elderly, resulted in that community elderly were more significantly independent in the areas of bathing and transfer than institutional elderly. 2) A comparison of IADL between two groups resulted in that : Community elderly were more independent in the areas of using telephone and transportation, food preparation, house keeping, and doing laundry. Institutional elderly were more independent in the area of handling finances. 3) In the case of poor health-related quality of life, institutional elderly showed 2.4 times in the dimension of physical fitness, 1.8 times in daily activity, 2 times in social activity, 2 times in pain, 26.7 times in social support, and 0.4 times in subjective quality of life higher than community elderly There was no significant differences in the rest of dimensions. 4) In institutional elderly, the analysis of variables related to the health-related quality of life resulted in that; The relating factors were sex, education, and chronic illness in the dimension of physical function. Direct contact with family or significant others in the dimension of social activity. Chronic illness in the dimension of pain and perceived health status. Direct or indirect contact with family or significant others over the phone or through letters in the dimension of social support. 5) The analysis of variables related to the health-related quality of life showed that community elderly has more relating variables in each area than institutional elderly. The relating factors were age, sex, and chronic illness in the dimension of physical function. Education and chronic illness in the dimension of emotional status. Age and chronic illness in the dimension of daily activity and social activity Education and chronic illness in the dimension of pain and perceived health status. Sex, education, family size in the dimension of social support. Education and chronic illness in the dimension of subjective quality-of-life. Throughout general daily activity, community elderly showed more satisfactory results than institutional elderly, but in the subjective area of health-related quality of life, such as subjective quality of life, institutional elderly group showed more positive results. And community elderly had more relating factors than institutional elderly. For the health care of the elderly that focused on quality of life, new approaches considering the characteristics of both group, institutional and community living elderly, are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.431-446
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to examine current foodservice management practices at free congregate meal service for elderly people. Forty seven meal service centers as well as randomly selected Seoul and Kyunggido area were surveyed and interviewed and results were summarized as follows: The cost of each meal(lunch) was ranged from 1,300 won to 1,500 won and 68% of target centers were severed over 100 meals per day. Meal time for lunch begins from 10:30 am to 12:00 because great portion of elderly didn't take breakfast frequently. 52.3% of centers severed meal 5 times per week, just weekdays. 21.3% of centers employeed dietitian, 63.8% of center employeed cook. 95.7% of center were supported labor force by volunteers. Volunteer was important contribution to free meal service. Utilizing the labor force more effectively is thus a major challenge facing manager in each center. Ideal supporting system of free foodstuff, foodbank was still minor source of securing foodstuff. Most of centers(46 centers)served lunch, only one of them served breakfast and lunch. Government was the major financial sponsor, the second of them was religious organization. The large portions of financial support provided only food cost of total meal service budget. Most of center adapted self-service system. Standardized recipes were not developed and meal preparation was controlled under the experience of volunteers. Recording system of nutrition management, production control, storage and inventory control was not adapted by most of sites. It is suggested that in order to meet the change of the patterns of social and family structure, the service of the center should be offended in urban area and it is necessary to develop systematic management models for the center. It was suggested that not only financial support but also systematical support on management by the local government may be necessary to meet the goal of supply nutritionally balanced food at center.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.3
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• pp.387-394
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• 2012

The study was conducted to develop an effective forest resources use models for an alternate use of abandoned quarry by an attitude survey. According to the result of survey, a pessimistic view due to dust, noise pollution, and forest damage was 5% higher than an affirmative view by economic benefits from the development of quarry. The 42% of the respondents preferred the alternate use of abandoned quarry and the 25% of the respondents wanted an art and cultural space. The optimum size of alternate use was 5-10 ha (43%) with the requirement of nearby residents (32%). According to the SWOT analysis for abandoned quarry, the strength factors were an effective use of land, the content development of modern industrial inheritance + cultural and art fusion, attraction for nearby city and visitors, a harmony of beauty landscape and clean environment, and a sustainable increase of domestic and foreign visitors with the 5-day-work week. The opportunity factors were the improvement of traffic networks through KTX and local highway, the creation of the new growth engines with the establishment of artistic creation belts, the providing of unique cultural and art space through grafting of tour and education, the creation of local income through stone processed goods, and the vitalization of local development through eco-city. The weakness factors were a psychological remoteness and backwardness, and the weakness of staying tour infra. The threat factors were a poor financial support for sustainable development in nearby quarry and a modify of legal and institutional system for the alternated use of abandoned quarry. The developed restoration models for the alternate use in abandoned quarry are classified to a sculpture park, a waterfall and lake park, a rock-climbing, a sports park + forest park, a native botanical garden, a culture and art park, a complex park, a water storage site, a water storage site to extinguish forest fire, a geriatric hospital, an agricultural facility, and a school site types etc. The results suggest that the alternate use in the abandoned soil and stone quarry is needed to establish facility use models with consideration of user's preference.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.347-365
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• 1995

A survey was conducted to study perception and attitudes of health workers towards health center's activities and organization of health services, from August 15 to September 30, 1994. The study population was 310 health workers engaged in seven urban health centers in Taegu City area. A questionnaire method was used to collect data and response rate was 81.3 percent or 252 respondents. The following are summaries of findings: Profiles of study population: Health workers were predominantly female(62.3%); had college education(60.3%); and held medical and nursing positions(39.6%), technicians(30.6%) and public health/administrative positions(29.8%). Perceptions on health center's resources: Slightly more than a half(51.1%) of respondents expressed that physical facilities of the centers are inadequate; equipments needed are short(39.0%); human resource is inadequate(44.8%); and health budget allocated is insufficient(38.5%) to support the performance of health center's activities. Decentralization and health services: The majority revealed that the decentralization of government system would affect the future activities of health centers(51.9%) which may have to change. However, only one quarter of respondents(25.4%) seemed to view the decentralization positively as they expect that it would help perform health activities more effectively. The majority of the respondents(78.6%) insisted that the function and organization of the urban health centers should be changed. Target workload and job satisfaction: A large proportion (43.3%) of respondents felt that present target setting systems for various health activities are unrealistic in terms of community needs and health center's situation while only 11.1 percent responded it positively; the majority(57.5%) revealed that they need further training in professional fields to perform their job more effectively; more than one third(35.7%) expressed that they enjoy their professional autonomy in their job performance; and a considerable proportion (39.3%) said they are satisfied with their present work. Regarding the personnel management, more worker(47.3%) perceived it negatively than positive(11.5%) as most of workers seemed to think the personnel management practiced at the health centers is not fair or justly done. Health services rendered: Among health services rendered, health workers perceived the following services are most successfully delivered; they are, in order of importance, Tb control, curative services, and maternal and child health care. Such areas as health education, oral health, environmental sanitation, and integrated health services are needed to be strengthening. Regarding the community attitudes towards health workers, 41.3 percent of respondents think they are trusted by the community they serve. New areas of concern identified which must be included in future activities of health centers are, in order of priority, health care of elderly population, home health care, rehabilitation services, and such chronic diseases control programs as diabetes, hypertension, school health and mental health care. In conclusion, the study revealed that health workers seemed to have more negative perceptions and attitudes than positive ones towards organization and management of health services and activities performed by the urban health centers where they are engaged. More specifically, the majority of health workers studied revealed to have the following areas of health center's organization and management inadequate or insufficient to support effective performance of their health activities: Namely, physical facilities and equipments required are inadequate; human and financial resources are insufficient; personnel management is unsatisfactory; setting of service target system is unrealistic in terms of the community needs. However, respondents displayed a number of positive perceptions, particularly to those areas as further training needs and implementation of decentralization of government system which will bring more autonomy of local government as they perceived these change would bring the necessary changes to future activities of the health center. They also displayed positive perceptions in their job autonomy and have job satisfactions.