• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of Yangseng (Traditional Health Behavior), depression, anxiety, cognitive function between the elderly women living alone and the aged in the living with family. Methods: The subjects of this study were 137 elderly women aged between 65 and 80. They were evaluated with the Tool in Measuring Yangseng (TMY), Korean Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inntory (STAI) and Korean of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMES-K). Depending on whether or not they lived alone, they were divided into two groups; group living alone (L.A.) and group living with family (L.F.). Results: In TMY score, there were statistically significant differences in characteristics of Mind, Diet, Sleep and total score between L.A. (63 persons) and L.F. (74 persons). Group living alone (L.A.) had significantly higher score in KGDS and STAI compared with other group (L.F.). The values of KGDS and STAI comparing to the values of Mind, Diet, Sleep, Exercise and total score in this study resulted in negative correlations which showed statistically significant. Conclusions: Above results suggest that between L.A. and L.F, there are significant difference in physical and mental health. TMY is enough to estimate health of the aged. These results can be used for Yangseng health promoting program based on Korean traditional medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.147-160
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• 2007

This research challenges the general notion of one-person households of the elderly during widowhood as impoverished, isolated, and vulnerable. Recognizing a high potential vulnerability, however, this research attempts to describe the diverse composition of one-person households of the elderly. For this purpose, relying on 2% sample data from the 2000 census, it examines regional distribution, socio-economic characteristics, and determinants of one-person households of the elderly during widowhood. Socio-economic characteristics of one-person households of the elderly differ by region. Jeju island is distinct in terms of sex and age distribution, and residence area of children. In general, rates of economic activity and self-subsistence are higher in provinces than in cities. Compared to the elderly living with family, the elderly living alone show high rates of economic activity, self-subsistence, and capability of physical activity. Results of logistic regression analysis of determinants of living arrangement are consistent with those of descriptive statistics. Those who are economically active and able to move around without assistance tend to live alone after the death of a spouse. Number of sons and living in an urban area are negatively associated with living alone, whereas females are more likely than males to live alone. According to the separate analysis by age, the positive effect of economic activity is greater in the oldest of the old than in other age groups. Those who possess high educational attainment tend to live alone when they are 80 and older, unlike other age groups. Based on these findings, this paper finds that one-person households of the elderly nay not always be the most vulnerable group, and are diverse in terms of socioeconomic characteristics.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.451-465
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• 2019

This study focuses on the relationship between living alone and depression of the elderly, and explores the possibility that loneliness mediates the relationship between the living alone and the level of depression in Korean Elderly. The sample of the study consists of 1000 elderly aged 65 and above living in Chuncheon. The data is analyzed with the path analysis method with OLS regression method. The main results of this study are as follows. First, the level of loneliness showed a significant difference according to whether they were living alone. The reason for the difference was that the elderly living alone had less intimate relationship comparing with the elderly living with others and did not feel that they had the sense of belonging or intimate relationship with others. Second, it was confirmed that controlling the loneliness, the living alone showed no direct relationship with depression, but it's indirect effect through loneliness was significant.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.31-41
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the remodeling of Carnation House, examine the current state of the spatial remodeling, and propose the future direction of the spatial remodeling of communal life facilities for the elderly living alone. To this end, experimental investigation, photograph shooting, and interviews with managers were performed, and a remodeling analysis was conducted by comparing the data before and after the remodeling. The study results can be summarized as below. First, as there is no standard for the remodeling of communal life facilities for the elderly living alone, related guidelines should be provided in the near future. Second, more fundamental approach to the remodeling should be made considering medical services for the elderly's safety, universal design plans, lifestyles of the elderly, and their use behaviors. Third, as communal life facilities for the elderly living alone normally have small spaces due to the remodeling by change of use, variable spatial planning should be performed for the elderly to utilize communal life facilities as multi-purpose and multi-functional spaces. Fourth, as the terrace space is an essential remodeling space needed for the elderly's rest, communication, and creation of profits, its remodeling should be realized in such a way that various programs can be utilized. Fifth, it turned out that the exterior remodeling could change the overall image of the facilities through new materials and colors.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.564-574
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was a descriptive survey research to compare and to examine the levels of physical health status. family support, and life satisfaction between the aged living alone and living with family, the relations among the factors. Methods: Subjects were the 267 aged (living alone: 133 subjects: living with family: 134 subjects) in Seoul and Gyung-gi province. Measures were Cornell Medical Index(CMI) to check physical health status, family support scale developed by Cobb(l976) to check the family support. and elderly life satisfaction scale developed by Yun(1982) to check life satisfaction. Data were collected from March to August. 2006. Collected data were analyzed through SPSS/PC 12.0 version. Results: First. degree of the physical health status. family support. and life satisfaction in the elderly living with family were better than them in the elderly living alone. Second. the relations among the factors were all positive correlation. Third. the education and monthly allowance in aged living alone did effect to the life satisfaction. Conclusion: Clinical practice should be focused on family support/social support for the aged living alone. Also nursing practitioners for the aged living alone should consider the general characteristics of them.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.146-154
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of household type on the health- and food-related behavior of the elderly. The survey was conducted on 304 free-living elderly persons in Chun-Chon city in 1999. The subjects were divided into three groups by their household types : living alone (n=35), living with their spouses (n=59), and living with their extended family (n=191). The results were obtained by personal interviews using questionnaires. Compared to the group living with their spouses and/or extended families, the elderly living alone were : less satisfied with the amount of monthly pocket money available; less involved in social activities; taking less vitamin supplements; doing less physical exercise; more frequently skipping meals and dining out; less frequently consuming meats, vegetables, fruits and seaweed; and having the highest rate of depression. The elderly living with their spouses tended to have the best physical functions and the greatest ability to carry out basic daily activities. The elderly living with their extended families had a higher incidence of diseases compared to the other groups. The preferred snacks were cookies for the elderly living alone, and fruits for the other two groups. In summary, it has been shown that household type should be taken into consideration for formulating adequate future strategies for effective health and nutrition programs.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.30 no.B
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• pp.55-59
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• 2010

The number of elderly people living alone increases with the trend of nuclear family in recent aging society and advances of health and medical technologies, where the safety of the elderly people becomes a big social issue. One of the safety system for them these days is that security guards regularly visit homes of the elderly living alone to check their safety. However, it is an inefficient system since it costs a great deal. So, a new efficient system with low cost using modern advanced technologies needs to be developed. In this paper, we implement a monitoring system for elderly living alone using ubiquitous sensor and zigbeX. The system can remotely determine the health status of elderly people and report to their hospitals. Since the system can be implemented with low cost and do the same job as security guards do, we expect that it should replace the existing expensive monitoring system.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.8957-8965
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• 2015

The degree of difficulty in low-income elderly people who living alone' life satisfaction is increased. The aim of this study is to find factors affecting the low-income elderly people who living alone' life satisfaction by examining the comparative influence of loneliness, family support, social support. For achieving this purpose, this study analyzed data of 300 low-income elderly people who living alone in Gyeonggi province. Findings of the study identified that the factors affecting the life satisfaction were health status, loneliness, family support, social support. Further, family support and social support had a significant influence on the low-income elderly people who living alone' life satisfaction even after controlling the influences of other factors. On the basis of the results, practical suggestions to increase the life satisfaction of low-income elderly people who living alone were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.29-53
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• 2014

This research is to study the economical, psychsocial, physical pains of the elderly mens living alone and the process being out of the isolated life. From this, we expect to propose a supportive program to help the living alone of the elderly mens. Six of the elderly mens living alone joined this research and the hermeneutical grounded theory methodology was applied to interpret it. Data were collected by the depth interview and various written records and they were analyzed by Rennie(2007)'s methodology. We could construct 13 categories by analyzing and categorizing meaningful units of the data. The core theme of the living alone experience was presented as "Accepting self-existence forgotten in the swamp of isolation and preparing for the blessed death." Based upon the research outcomes, we suggested a social supportive program considering the elderly men's characters and a way to improve the accessibility to the therapy system for the elderly mens living alone and the need for a meaning therapy.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the living experiences of low-income elderly living alone. Method: The data were collected through more than ten times of in-depth interview with 7 participants. The research question was "what is it like to experience your daily living?" The data were analyzed by Colaizzi's phenomenological analytic method. Results: Four main meaningful themes were identified: 1) The participants blamed themselves for their past lives, 2) They also felt sorry for being a burden on other's lives, 3) They considered diseases to be a natural part of life, 4) They felt worried and hopeless about the rest of their lives. Conclusion: This study revealed the living experiences of low-income elderly living alone. Further studies are needed to determine appropriate care and treatment. The authentic caring approaches are required with caring community people. Finally, this study may provide data for better recognizing the low-income elderly's experiences of caring in the community.