• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.554-563
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate elders' experience in a mentoring program and preferred characteristics of the program. Methods: Two hundred and ten elders dwelling in Sungnam-si. Korea participated in the survey from April 1 to May 30, 2008. Using SPSS Win 10.0, descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and t-test were performed. Result: About two thirds of the elders had experience as a mentee, and a large number of them reported that it was helpful. Compared to those without, the elders with the mentee experience were more likely to perceive that it is easier to build a mentor-mentee relationship. The most common reason for wanting a mentee experience was loneliness, whereas the most frequent reason for not wanting was feeling a burden when meeting a stranger. Preferred characteristics of a mentoring program differed between the elders who had the mentee experience and those who did not. Conclusion: This study concluded that a mentoring program is highly likely to provide psycho-social support to the elderly, Also, a large number of the elders who had never had a mentor-mentee relationship wanted to have it in the future. This study suggests that healthcare professionals include a mentoring program in healthcare services for the elderly, considering preferred characteristics of a mentor-mentee relationship.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to describe about elders with dementia, their families, and their living environment by visiting the households where demented elders resided. The findings will be used as a basis to develop future individualized adjustment programs for demented elders and their families living in communities. The study participants were 64 demented elders and their families who were registered to a dementia counseling center at Nam-Gu community health center located in Inchon, Korea. Data were collected for two months, from May to June 2001. The length of data collection for each home visit ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Conclusion are as follows based on these study findings: Those demented elders had more than one chronic health problem in addition to their pre-existing dementia condition. Two thirds of the demented elders were not receiving any specific treatment for dementia. They showed a moderate level of independence in basic ADL, but were mostly residing at home because of lack of ability to perform more delicate and complicate routine daily activities by themselves. In addition, the primary caregivers were not well adjusted to the care-giving activities for their demented family members due to the lack of knowledge and information about dementia. The caregivers were mostly women including daughters-in-law, woman spouses and daughters, over a half of whom perceived their physical and mental health status as poor. Their image toward the demented elders was considerably negative. while their level of knowledge on dementia was moderate. The burden for the care-giving was high, whereas their coping method was passive. As the difference in image toward elderly before and after the onset of dementia in their family member increases, the caregiver burden also increased. The main resource of social support for the caregivers was their children. The caregivers showed high level of needs for knowledge and information on dementia, and day care service was the most preferred type of service by the caregivers. There was lack of safety in the living environments for the demented elders and their families, and in the surrounding environments to prevent dementia-related symptoms. Considering that home-based family care-giving is the most culturally appropriate model of providing care for the demented elders in Korea, we need to develop and apply an individualized adjustment program for the demented elders and their families.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.237-259
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• 2004

The public assistance scheme plays more important role in income maintenance for poor elders than the public pension does due to insufficient coverage of the public pension resulted from late introduction of it in Korea. However, only limited numbers of poor elders are financially protected by the public assistance contrary to the general perception that the elderly population most benefits from public aids. Based on data set of 2000 from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study, this study analysed the size, composition and characteristics of poor elders excluded from the public assistance, and determinants of the elderly's participation in it. Findings of the study can be summarized as follows: (1) More than half of poor elders are excluded from the public assistance although their economic status is similar with that of recipients, which may cause income reversal between recipients and non-recipients. (2) It was identified that non-recipient poor elders especially those with same income level of recipients of the National Livelihood Guarantees(NLG) are actually in desperate need of public aids considering their serious financial conditions. (3) Participation in public assistance among the elderly is more affected by socio-demographic factors that reflect family conditions than by economic factors, which is mostly caused by the strict eligibility criteria of the public assistance that reinforces family duty of financial support for elderly relatives in Korea. Policy implications for more effective income security for poor elders include revising inappropriate eligibility criteria of the NLG concerning family obligations, expanding the coverage of the old age allowance for poor elders to near-poor elders, and providing work opportunities to non-recipient poor elders to supplement their income deficit.

• Journal of Society of Occupational Therapy for the Aged and Dementia
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2018

Objective : The aim of this study was to compare the sociodemographic characteristics, depression, quality of life, and unmet medical need in elders with and without limitation of activity by aging or dementia. Method : The data were used for raw data of seventh national health and nutrition examination survey (2016). We compared sociodemographic characteristics, depression, quality of life, and unmet medical needs between elders with limitation of activity by aging or dementia (n = 32) and elders without limitation of activity (n = 1201). Result : Elders with limitation of activity were significantly older than elders without limitation of activity (p<.001), income was lower (p<.05) and married status had more bereavement (p<.001). The elders with limitation of activity had higher depression (p<.001) and lower quality of life (p<.001) than elders without limitation of activity. Unmet medical need was greater than elders without limitation of activity (p<.001). Conclusion : Elders with limitation of activity showed that they did not receive enough medical services than elders without limitation of activity. These results suggest that the welfare system for the health care of population with aging or dementia needs to be improved.

• 한국노년학
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1113-1128
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate toilet terms and pictograms recognized by elders living in Seoul and Incheon. Method: Data were collected from 308 elders by individual interviews using questionnaires. Result: As for the name of places for elimination, those elders responded Hwajangsil 88.3%, followed by Byeonso 49.3% and Dwitgan 44.4%. Most elders preferred Hwajangsil as the term indicating the place for elimination. The mean age of the group preferred Bunso was significantly higher than that of the group preferred Hwajangsil, whereas educational level was higher in the latter group. Of the 256 respondents, 55% preferred the pictogram of international toilet sign, while 34.8% preferred the pictogram of toilet stool. Those with no formal education tended to prefer the pictogram of toilet stool. Conclusion: The term Hwajangsil is suggested for indicating toilet for elders in general. Other terms familiar with residents need to be investigated in the facilities for elders and those terms should be used in combination with Hwajangsil. English toilet signs alone are not recommended for elders. Simple pictograms of toilet stool is suggested for elders with low educational level. Toilet signs for elders need to include both terms and pictograms.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.41-50
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to identify differences in factors influencing cognitive function according to the cognition of community dwelling elders. Methods: A convenience sample of 565 community dwelling elders participated in this study and from May to June, 2010 trained research assistants collected data using structured questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression with the SPSS Win 15.0 version. Results: The elders had a slightly low degree of cognitive function. Of the 565 elders, 41.1% were in the normal group for cognitive function and 58.9% in the mild impairment group. Although there were no significant differences in general characteristics between the groups, factors influencing cognitive function were different. Factors influencing elders in the normal group were leisure activity and moderately good health status. These variables accounted for 5.7% of the variance in cognitive function. Factors influencing elders in the mild impairment group were leisure activity, depression, and education level limited to elementary school graduation. These variables accounted for 19.9% of the variance cognitive function. Conclusion: This study provides comprehensive understanding of factors influencing cognitive function in elders. Differentiated nursing interventions according to degree of cognitive function are suggested.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.292-304
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• 1999

The lengthened average span of human life by virtue of recent developments in medicine has caused the Population of elders to increase. The development of modern industrial society has transformed family structure from the large family system to that of a nuclear family. Due to the shift in family structure, the problem of support for the aged has surfaced as a nursing problem as well as a social problem. With regard to this problem, this study aims to investigate the adolescent's understanding of elders and aging. By identifying their understanding and classifying their attitude patterns, this study will help the nursing assessment of the support of elders in the family. This study employed Q-methodology and the research was conducted from December 1998 to May 1999. One method of the research included deep interviews with elders, those who are in their 50's. 40's or 30's. and the adolescent. 183 Q-Populations taken from literary works such as poems or novels were also formed as another method. Finally. 36 Q-cards were made after consultation with Professors of the nursing department. The subjects of the P- sample were 30 high sohoolboys/girls - who were in first, second, and third years. The result showed that 3 factors provided an explanation for 59.14% of the whole variables: the first factor, 41.37%; the second factor. 11.49%, and the third factor. 6.28%. These three factors were analyzed and categorized as three types. Twenty subjects out of the 30 were included in Type 1: Respecting Elders. The statements which showed the most positive consent were as follows: 'The declining age is a perfect time to prosper completing a worthy life' ; 'Getting old. one needs financial stability' and 'Elders wish the best for their children' The statements showing the most negative response were as follows: 'It is better to die than to live as an older person' ; 'Elders are insignificant' ; and 'Getting old is the worst unhappiness that tortures human.' Four subjects were included in Type 2. Resenting Elders. The statements which showed the most positive consent were as follows: 'Aging is a process of dying that nobody can escape from'. 'Elders should be concerned about his health and try to maintain their health' ; and 'When you set older. you regret about the life in the Past.' The statements showing the most negative response were as follows: 'When You get older. You should stand aloof greed and worldly things' 'When You got older, You become generous and gentle' ; and 'When You set he gets old. You change to become a comfortable and warm person.' Six out of 30 subject were included in Type 3 Caring Elders. The statements which showed the most positive consent were as follows: 'Elders should be concerned about his health and try to maintain their health' ; 'Elders wish the best for their children' ; and 'Elders deserve to be treated with filial respects.' The statements showing the most negative response were as follows 'Elders are insignificant' ; 'Elders have freedom and plenty of free time.' and 'Elders are alienated form and drove out of the society.' The above-mentioned results show that most adolescents in Korea recognize aging as the time of fruition and development: it is a time of benefiting and giving back to society. Aging can also be seen as a time of generosity and magnanimity and the time of respect and favorable treatment from society. despite the change of modern society and the ostensible transformation of a family system. Their recognition seems deeply rooted in the traditional confucian values and the dual family system which is Peculiar especially to the Korea - one which maintains both the superficial form of nuclear family and the substantial mode of the enlarged family system. In sum, many Korean adolescents attribute the meaning of the elderly and aging to the type of the respect with the elderly and the type of the elderly's caretaking.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.481-489
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify health promoting lifestyle patterns (HPLP) and health perception (HP), and related factors, in elderly people using welfare service centers. Methods: Three hundred elders were interviewed using a structured questionnaire through convenience sampling at two welfare centers. Data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results: Most of the elders had some kind of diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, or osteoarthritis. The mean HPLP score was 2.53, and significant differences were found according to the elders' general characteristics. The sub-domain nutrition had the highest mean score, and stress management and exercise, the lowest. The mean HP score was 3.38, and significant differences were found according to education level and number of underlying diseases. HPLP showed a correlation with HP. Conclusion: The results indicate that elders have poor practices in stress management and exercise reflecting need for community based stress management programs for welfare service centers elderly clients.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to analyze the factors that influence alcohol use disorder in elders in KyongBuk province. The results of the study will provide basic information for the development of nursing interventions to promote proper alcohol use in elders. Methods: The subjects were 626 elderly individuals. Alcohol use disorder was defined as a score of more than 15 point on the AUDIT-K(Korean version of Alcohol Use Identification Test). Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, ANOVA and logistic regression were utilized to analyze the data. Results: Overall incidence of alcohol use disorder level; normal 73.2%, problem drinking 7.5% and alcohol use disorder 19.3%. Significant factors affecting alcohol use disorder were sex (OR=6.897), religious belief (OR=1.836), smoking (OR=2.948), liver disease (OR=4.753) and depression (OR=1.779). Conclusion: Community health care nurses perform a crucial function in the screening of elderly alcoholics. Early detection and treatment of depression in elders may help to prevent alcoholism.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of balance taping for elders suffering from leg pain. Method: This study was a nonequivalent pretest-posttest design, quasi-experimental study. There were 25 elders in the experimental group and 25 in the control group. The degree of leg pain was measured three times. Results: In the experimental group, the leg pain score before taping was 6.28, but 1 hour after the taping was applied it was 3.24, and at 24 hours after the taping was applied, 2.16. The leg pain score for elders in the experimental group decreased significantly but for those in the control group, it hardly changed. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the conclusion that balance taping may benefit individuals with leg pain. Also, balance taping therapy can be used as an independent nursing intervention.