• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.75-84
• /
• 2004

Insufficient dietary intake of vitamin A is one of the major nutritional problems for elderly adults in some parts of Korea. The objective of this study was to determine the vitamin A nutritional status of elderly adults in Asan, Korea by assessing the dietary intake and serum retinol concentration. Five hundred twenty four subjects (218 male and 306 female) over 65 years were recruited from city of Asan. Each subject was interviewed to assess the intake of vitamin A using a 24hr recall method and data were analysed from computer-aided nutrient analysis program. Blood samples after 12hr fasting were collected for serum retinol concentration and reverse phased HPLC with UV detector used. The results showed that subjects did not consume the sufficient amount of energy (82-85% of Korean RDA for male and 77-79% RDA for female) and vitamin A (59% RDA for male and 50% RDA for female). Range for retinol intake was 0 to $4342\;{\mu}g$ a day while that of beta-carotene was 65 to $31595\;{\mu}g$. Serum retinol concentrations were within a normal range for both male ($80\;{\mu}g/dl$) and female ($67\;{\mu}g/dl$) subjects. Many subjects (n=342) consumed less than 50% RDA of vitamin A. However, if retinol intake was high (> $37\;{\mu}g$), even with less than 50% RDA of vitamin A intake, serum retinol concentration was high ($75\;{\mu}g/dl$). Subjects showed normal serum retinol status even with low vitamin A intake. The results suggested that optimal intake ratio of dietary retinol and carotenoid is important to maintain an appropriate serum retinol concentration.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.60 no.1
• /
• pp.127-157
• /
• 2008

The purpose of the current research is to reconstruct the 'structure of biographical processes' on the lives of the elderly couples residing in the rural area in terms of 'gender relations.' Autobiographical-narrative interviews with each of the six elderly couples were conducted. Interview data were analyzed through the eclectic application of $Sch\ddot{u}tze's$ autobiographical-narrative interview and Dausien's feministic biographical research methods. Research findings revealed that each biography of the elderly couples represents the 'structure of biographical process' that shapes 'trajectories.' Such 'trajectories' were found to characterize two dimensions of 'gender relations'. First, on the micro- and macro-levels of 'trajectories,' 'gender relations' were noticed. The 'trajectories' of the male elderly were found to be both in personal and familial contexts and in socio-structural context, while those of the female elderly were found to be mostly in personal and familial contexts. Second, on the micro-level of 'trajectories,' 'gender relations' were noticed. The male elderly were more or less different from one another, contingent on the phases of life. They turned out to take simple roles of performing 'outdoor duties' and to be passive in doing 'housework.' Contrary to the male elderly, the female counterparts proved to actively assume 'dual roles' in 'family affairs' and 'outdoor duties'. Such findings led to the observation of 'doing gender' in the biographies of the elderly and, furthermore, to capturing the fact that 'doing gender' is different, depending on the phases of life and sex. Finally, some implications for practice were drawn from the current findings with special reference to biography and gender relations.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.111-121
• /
• 2005

This study was to performed to assess social factors and physical health status. The subjects of the study were 103 elderly people of age over 85 years living in Ganghwa-gun area. The method of this research was based on the interview-survey with questionnaire. Chi-square test was the main data analysis method. The subject group was composed of 36 males and 67 females, the average age being 91.0 $\pm$ 3.2 years old for the males and 91.1 $\pm$ 3.4 years old for the females. The aged average height and weight were 161.0 $\pm$ 7.9 cm and 54.6 $\pm$ 7.8 kg in males, 141.0 $\pm$ 8.2 cm and 42.2 $\pm$ 7.9 kg in females which were lower than the Korean average standard but the mean BMIs of both male and female showed normal range. Their level of education was lower and they tended to be religious. The aged population might be economically poor. Their level of living standards tended to have been lower-middle and lower class. The mean age of their parents' death were 64.3 $\pm$ 17.2 years in males, 59.0 $\pm$ 14.9 years in females for the father and 70.9 $\pm$ 15.5 years in males, 66.8 $\pm$ 16.6 years in females for the mother. The rate of living together with their family or spouse in the female aged was $83.2\%$ higher than in the male aged. They tended to have engaged in hobbies that require less movement. Of the kinds of hobby, 'TV watching ($47.8\%$ in male and $44.9\%$ in female) was the highest. Ratios of the drinking and the smoking elderly were $30.6\%$, $25.0\%$ in male and $7.5\%$, $18.8\%$ in female but they tended to have never drunken and smoked. Of the subjects, $42.9\%$ spend 8$\~$9 hours for sleeping in male and $35.8\%$ spend 10 hours for sleeping in female. They tended to have not done any particular health behavior. The most common diseases were digestive disease in male, arthritis and hypertension in female. Most elderly males ($47.3\%$) and females ($61.2\%$) had 1$\~$2 diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.119-123
• /
• 1999

Background and Objectives : Conditions such as muscle atrophy, stretching of strap muscles, and continued craniofacial growth factors have been cited as contributing to the changes observed in the vocal tract structure and function in elderly speakers. The purpose of the present study is to compare F$_1$ and F$_2$ frequency levels in elderly and young adult male and female speakers producing a series of vowels ranging from high-front to low-back placement. Material and Methods : The subjects were two groups of young adults(10 males, 10 females, mean age 21 years old range 19-24 years) and two groups of elderly speakers(10 males, 10 females, mean age 67 years : range 60-84 years). Each subject participated in speech pathologist to be a speaker of unimpared standard Korean. The headphone was positioned 2 cm from the speakers lips. Each speaker sustained the five vowels for 5 s. Formant frequency measures were obtained from an analysis of linear predictive coding in CSL model 4300B(Kay co). Results : Repeated measure AVOVA procedures were completed on the $F_1$ and $F_2$ data for the male and female speakers. $F_2$ formant frequency levels were proven to be significantly lower fir elderly speakers. Conclusions : We presume $F_2$ vocal cavity(from the point of tongue constriction to lip) lengthening in elderly speakers. The research designed to observe dynamic speech production more directly will be needed.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.265-277
• /
• 2018

This study examined if support from separated children as a factor of depression was distinguishable between male and female elderly individuals living in one-person households. This study analyzed data of 2,354 elderly individuals living in one-person households(407 males and 1,947 females) who were 65 years of age or older using data from the 2014 National Elderly Survey on Living Conditions and Need for Welfare. Employing logistic regression, IADL, self-rated health, and, friends were important for male elderly individuals living in one-person households, while self-rated health, friends, employment, chronic diseases, and emotional support from separated children were noticeable for female elderly individuals living in one-person households. To better understand the mental health needs by gender of elderly individuals living in one-person households, their differences in emotional support from separated children, should be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 2023

Methods: This study presents a comprehensive case study of an elderly male diagnosed with acute kidney injury (AKI) resulting from severe dehydration, supported by an extended follow-up with laboratory findings. Results: An 83-year-old male patient experienced severe diarrhea overnight, leading to hospitalization due to symptoms of dehydration and hypotension. His laboratory results displayed a typical AKI pattern, including a significant increase in creatinine levels (5.19 mg/dL) and the presence of hyperkalemia and hyponatremia. Following general treatments, including the administration of an herbal drug (Bulhwangeumjeonggi-san), the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) improved from 10 ml/min (Stage 5) to 34 ml/min (Stage 3) within five days when he was discharged. Although subsequent eGFR tests, conducted one and two months later as an outpatient, revealed an improvement of 42 ml/min, the patient still experienced mild chronic dysfunction as a consequence. Conclusion: This study presents a noteworthy case of acute kidney injury attributed to severe dehydration, emphasizing the importance of medical awareness regarding diarrhea-induced kidney function impairment, especially in the elderly population.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.274-278
• /
• 2011

The changes in the corpus callosum (CC) with age and gender remain largely subject to dispute, which might come from the different strategies for analyzing the size and shape of CC. We have investigated this issue by measuring some variables reflecting the spatial orientation of CC on magnetic resonance imaging in Koreans, which minimize individual variances in the brain. The subjects were composed of young adults in their twenties (51 male, 59 female) and elderly adults in their sixties and seventies (60 male, 71 female). The total area of CC, length and height of CC, the central angle and the four angles suggested by Oka et al. were measured. The whole area and the central angle of CC were not significantly affected by age and gender. The height and length of CC were significantly greater in elderly people. The angle connecting genu, upper notch of pons and splenium was significantly larger in the elderly group. Furthermore, all four angles were significantly different between male and female subjects. These results confirm that the spatial orientation of CC is influenced by age and gender.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.161-169
• /
• 2001

This study has been performed to analyze association between general housing status and demographic characteristics such as family extension period, total fertility within a family, male birth rates, and birth order among the elderly in Korea. In this study, 183 subjects aged late 60s to 70s were interviewed for their childbearing history under legal marriage and current housing status such as tenure, residence(urban vs rural), and household composition. In this study , average term from the first to the last birth is 11.88 years, and total number of live births is 4.51. The average rate of male firths among live births within a family is 0.532, which is close to data of Korean statistical office in 1995. There were some association of housing status and the fertility; those living in rented units have longer family extension period and rural elderly have higher rate of male children. in addition, there is a significant impact of birth order on tenure. Majority of the first-born subjects were home owners by virtue of bequeath eligibility, and the rate of home owners was 50% higher than the second-born group. Overall in this study, it is recommended that when planning elderly living facilities, service policies be differentiated by both housing & fertility characteristics.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.24 no.3 s.81
• /
• pp.95-115
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze the affecting factors on male salary workers' pre-retirement plans and pre-retirement planning programs. The focus was on male workers' pre-retirement plans and programs for economy, housing, family relationship, leisure and health care in their elderly life. The major findings were as follows: First, the salary workers estimated their level of economic and health problems among their elderly life as relatively high. Second, the major factors affecting the level of planning for post-retirement were salary workers' age, job satisfaction, and reserved savings for their elderly life. Third, the major affecting factors on participation in pre-retirement planning programs were age, educational attainment, and spouse's job status. From these findings, it can be concluded that salary workers' level of pre-retirement planning and the needs of pre-retirement planning programs differed from their personal characteristics and preferences. Also, salary workers' characteristics related to job and retirement had more important effects on their pre-retirement planning than economic status.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.551-562
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the perception about the elderly among undergraduate students interested in the elderly care business. Method: In this descriptive research, a total of 183 undergraduate students were participated. The instrument was consisted of a 18-item semantic differential scale developed by Sanders et al (1984). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients by SPSS 18.0. Result: Undergraduate students' perception about the elderly was slightly positive($2.98{\pm}1.51$). The significant factors associated with the perception about the elderly were gender, age, present residing state with the elderly, experience of residing with the elderly at the past. Male students' perception about the elderly was more positive than female. Among 18 items, 'wise' and 'knowledgeable' was highly related to the perception about the elderly(r=.671, p=.001). Conclusion: These findings indicate that the items of optimistic, attractive, flexible and good were the impressive perceptions about the elderly for the undergraduate students. The result of this study can be utilized to promote perception about the elderly among undergraduate students.