• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.429-442
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• 2020

The purpose of this research was to examine changes in the physical fitness, activities of daily living performance, and cognitive status of the frail elderly by combined exercise programs. The combined exercise program consisted of an aerobic exercise for the elderly and a four-color ladder exercise for improving of cognitive ability and physical fitness. Twenty-one frail elderly participated in this study, they were divided into 12 exercise groups and nine control groups. The exercise group conducted the combined exercise program of 60 minutes, twice a week, for10 weeks, while the control group maintained their normal lives. Strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, ADL and MMSE-K were measured. Exercise group showed significant improvement in grip strength compared to control group. In addition, ADL showed significant improvement only in the exercise group. The results of this study showed that participation in the combined exercise program of the el derl y was effective in improving the grip strength, and in preventing various physical functions and cognitive conditions decline.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2011

The growth of the aging population in Korea will challenge health and social services. As Korean society changes, the U.S. models of end-of-life care and geriatric care for frail older adults may have increasing relevance for the Korean healthcare system. This article reviews three U.S. models of care for frail older adults: hospice and palliative care, the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and the transitional care model. We describe the strengths and limitations of each model and discuss ways in which these models could be adapted for the Korean healthcare system.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2012

Purpose: This study aimed to identify depression and its predictors among Korean community-dwelling elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: Secondary data analyses of the data collected by the "Study on tailored integration program for reinforcing cognitive and physical function of the frail elderly. The study used data from one-to-one interviews using structured questionnaires. The subjects were 346 community-dwelling elderly who visited a healthcare center in Seoul, Korea. A descriptive correlational study design was utilized to explore depression and its predictors including physical factors and psychosocial factors among the elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Data were analyzed using t-test, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical regression. Results: Mean score of depression was within normal limit $11.61{\pm}6.69$. Somatic symptoms, negative life events (severity), social support were shown as significant predictors of depression. The most influential predictor for depression was somatic symptoms (${\beta}$=.340, $p$ <.001). Conclusion: To prevent and relieve depression in the elderly with mild cognitive impairment, nursing intervention strategies which consider well-balanced physical and psychosocial aspects are needed. In particular, a specific nursing intervention strategy is required to improve physical health of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.112-120
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of interpersonal attitude (I+, I-, U+, U-) on communication competence in care workers for frail elderly. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey. The data were collected from 153 care workers for frail elderly using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: The interpersonal attitude style of subjects was I+U+, and the score of communication competence was 3.53. There were significant differences in interpersonal attitude (I+, I-), and communication competence depending on age, education level, experience of personality type test (yes). Factors influencing on communication competence in care workers were interpersonal attitude (I+, I-, U+) and experience of personality type test with $R^2$ value of 48.5% (F=23.47 p<.001). The most influencing factor was I+ (${\beta}$=.36), followed by I- (${\beta}$=-.22), U+ (${\beta}$=.20), and experience of personality type test (yes) (${\beta}$=.16). Conclusion: It is needed to maintain the interpersonal attitude style (I+U+) of care workers. Continuing education program is needed for increasing communication competence especially for those fifties and over, and experienced care workers. Giving an opportunity for personality test is helpful to increase communication competence in care workers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.872-881
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the formal education program provided by the Korean government for care workers for frail elderly people. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey in which 438 certified care workers who had completed the education program participated. Data were collected from June to October 2009, using a self-report questionnaire consisting of satisfaction with, and understanding of the education program. Results: The participants had a mean age of 46.7 yr, 87.9% were female and 58.2% were high school graduates. For the theory part of the education, the highest score for understanding was for 'supporting household & activities of daily living' while the lowest score for understanding was for 'care for death and dying'. For the practical education, the highest score for understanding was for 'talking with the client' and the lowest score was for 'first aid & basic life support'. There was a significant difference in satisfaction and understanding of the theoretical and practical parts according to educational level. Conclusion: Continuing education programs are needed for care workers for elders, both in the theoretical and practical areas. Also the content of programs should address the weak points of this formal education program.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.613-625
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effects of a fall prevention program on falls, physical function, psychological function, and home environmental safety in frail elders living at home in rural communities. Methods: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pre posttest design. The study was conducted from July to November, 2012 with 30 participants in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Participants were registered at the public health center of E County. The prevention program on falls consisted of laughter therapy, exercise, foot care and education. The program was provided once a week for 8 weeks and each session lasted 80 minutes. Results: The risk score for falls and depression in the experimental group decreased significantly compared with scores for the control group. Compliance with prevention behavior related to falls, knowledge score on falls, safety scores of home environment, physical balance, muscle strength of lower extremities, and self-efficacy for fall prevention significantly increased in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the prevention program on falls is effective for the prevention of falls in frail elders living at home.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2009

According to the rapid increase of the elderly population, especially frail older population, many kinds of elderly care facilities have been supplied within a relatively short period. Among them, elderly hospitals and elderly welfare facilities have occupied a major portion. The elderly hospital, which had emerged from 1994, has recorded sharp increase in facility numbers and bed numbers by the support of Korean government together with the increase of care demand. However, the concept and fundamental planning criteria of elderly hospitals have not yet been set up. This paper has derived the concept of the elderly hospital from the Medical Law and Elderly Welfare Law, and prospected the supply of it from domestic and international statistics. Also this paper has explored the fundamental design issues of elderly hospitals by analysing precedent studies and designs, and by surveying some facilities.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.460-468
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• 2021

Objective : Extremely low alanine transaminase (ALT) levels are associated with all-cause mortality in frail elderly individuals; the clinical significance of ALT as a reliable biomarker is now being considered. Predicting mortality with routine tests at the time of diagnosis is important for managing patients after intracranial hemorrhage. We aimed to investigate whether an extremely low ALT level is associated with mortality in the elderly after intracranial hemorrhage. Methods : A retrospective review was performed on 455 patients with intracranial hemorrhage admitted to a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital from February 2014 to May 2019. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed for all ages and for each age group to determine whether an extremely low ALT level is an independent predictor of mortality only in the elderly. Results : Overall, 294 patients were enrolled, and the mean age of the subjects was 59.1 years, with 99 (33.8%) aged ≥65 years. The variables associated with all-cause mortality in all subjects were age, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, hemoglobin (Hb) levels (<11 g/dL), and initial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores. In young patients, CRP, low Hb levels, and initial GCS scores were significantly associated with all-cause mortality. However, in the elderly (≥65 years), the variables significantly associated with all-cause mortality were extremely low levels of ALT (<10 U/L) (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.313; 95% confidence interval, 1.232-8.909; p=0.018) and initial GCS scores. Conclusion : Extremely low ALT level (<10 U/L) at the time of diagnosis is a significant risk factor for all-cause mortality in the elderly after intracranial hemorrhage.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of masticatory ability on frailty in the elderly. General characteristics, subjective and objective masticatory ability, and frailty level were investigated in 224 elderly. The major findings were as; There were differences in masticating ability according to age, education level, employment status, living arrangement, and maxillary & mandibular dentures. The masticatory ability of the non-frail elderly was significantly higher than the frail elderly. The risk ratio of frailty was 2.33 times higher in subjects with poor mastication compared to subjects with good mastication ability. Also, as a result of adjusting for age, the risk ratio of frailty in the poor group was 2.30 times higher than in the group with good mastication ability. Through this, it is thought that the masticatory ability of the elderly is one of the predictors of frailty, and efforts to achieve healthy aging by preventing senescence through oral health management at the community level are thought to be necessary.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.49-56
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• 2010

In Japan, a lot of elderly housing types have been developed in order to meet various needs of the older person and the change of social situations. Elderly housings can be divided into three categories elderly housings for healthy older persons, elderly care homes for the healthy and elderly care facilities for the unhealthy. Elderly housings include public and private rental housings. Sometimes they can be designated only for the elderly. Elderly care homes for the healthy elderly include full fee charging elderly housing, elderly homes, low fee charging elderly homes and care houses. Elderly care facilities for the unhealthy elderly consist of full fee charging elderly care homes, group homes for the dementia, elderly health facilities, nursing homes, elderly hospitals, and so on. However "elderly care facilities" have been proved not to be efficient for the delivery of elderly welfare services nor satisfactory to the frail older person. Therefore, based on the concept of the "Normalization", daily services have been provided for the elderly in order that they can live at their own home in the community for themselves. As a result, Japan aims not only to reduce elderly welfare expenses but also to increase elderly users' satisfaction. Emphasis on non-institutionalization and in-home services, regional characterization, harmony between Hard and Soft, user oriented services, substantiality, universal design and so on are sought for the sake of those goals.