• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.168-174
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• 2021

Korea is ranked as the world's No. 1 country in its aging rate. While the interest and demand for health is rapidly increasing, the health status of the elderly is in the lowest among OECD members. Increased chronic diseases, the burden of medical costs and digital/untact changes of societies after COVID-19 have caused the direction of healthcare to be changed from treatment oriented to health care and prevention oriented, along with increased income levels and a desire for a healthy life. Amid this paradigm of change, the gap in health standards and health inequality for the elderly according to local structure and social conditions affects not only socio-economic but also the quality of life for individual senior citizen. Utilizing prior data of Aging Research Panel Survey, this study aims to compare and analyze health conditions and regional gaps which are significant influences on the satisfaction of the life of the elderly, and to suggest direction of studies for health care to provide solutions for health inequalities. The findings are intended to be a basic data for researching models of the New Normal Smart Healthcare System that bridge the health gap between the elderly and enhance life satisfaction with health care models suitable for regional characteristics in aging society.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Purpose : This study is to identify the effect of a thera-band exercise program on the physical function of elderly women. Methods : The subjects included 54 elderly women who participated in the program at J Senior Welfare Center in Jeollabuk-do. They were divided into two groups, 30 elderly women of control group and 24 of experimental group. A thera-band exercise program was conducted to both groups for total eight weeks-three times a week with a 50-minute period. After/before the experiment, the following seven categories were estimated for each subject: cardiopulmonary endurance, lower extremity power, upper extremity power, muscle endurance, flexibility, equilibrium, and agility. Results : There was a significant increase on the physical function of all the subjects in the experimental group and the control one after the experiment. Furthermore, the experimental group showed more meaningful improvement than the control one. Conclusion : On the basis of these findings, the thera-band exercise program contributes the enhancement of physical function of elderly women. Thus, more various physical exercise program should be developed for healthy aging.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2023

This study was to suggest the roles of social enterprises in maintaining healthy life of the socially vulnerable by creating a customized care environment through chronic disease diet management targeting the elderly at home in need of care in the community. As for the subjects of this study, 102 in-home elderly people aged 65 or older (14 males & 88 females) who needed care in the community were provided with a diet management lunch box delivery service customized for chronic diseases. Theoretical education and cooking class on chronic diseases were provided to 15 volunteers with 10 sessions, and customized lunch boxes were provided to the elderly with chronic diseases at home on that day. In conclusion, it is believed that only by increasing the level of knowledge about chronic diseases and nutritional knowledge of the elderly will it be possible to establish a proper meal plan. Since the role of volunteers is important, it is necessary to systematically seek nutritional education methods for volunteers.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.337-349
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between eating behaviour and healthy dietary competency of single and multi-person households, to improve healthy eating behavior. Methods: This study was conducted on 6,355 adult household members who participated in the Food Consumption Behavior Survey 2020. The subjects were divided into age groups comprising young people in their 20s and 30s, middle-aged people in their 40s and 50s, and the elderly in their 60s and above. The eating behavior and healthy dietary competency of single-person and multi-person households were then analyzed. Results: The average age of the members in the single-person households was found to be higher. Single-person households were also found to have a lower marriage rate and lower monthly household income than multi-person households across the age groups of young, middle-aged, and elderly people (P < 0.05). Among each of the age groups, single-person households had significantly higher rates of skipping breakfast and eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner alone than multi-person households (P < 0.05). Young single-person households had lower average scores on healthy dietary competency than multi-person households (P = 0.032). When adjusted for age, gender, marriage, education, occupation, and household income, single-person households had a higher risk of delivery/take-out, eating out, or skipping meals compared to multi-person households (P < 0.05). In multi-person households, the risk of skipping meals, eating alone, eating out, or delivery/take-out decreased as healthy dietary competency improved (P < 0.05). On the other hand, in single-person households, as healthy dietary competency increased, the risk of delivery/take-out or eating alone decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that healthy dietary competency and eating practices can be improved by providing customized dietary education by age group for single and multi-person households.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2020

Objectives: The quality of life (QoL) of the elderly and elder abuse are growing public health concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of abuse and the association between QoL and abuse in older adults. Methods: Multistage random cluster sampling, along with valid QoL (LEIPAD: LEIden, the Netherlands; PADua, Italy; Helsinki, Finland) and abuse questionnaires, were used to assess QoL and elder abuse. Path analysis was performed using Mplus. SPSS and AMOS were used for the other analyses. Results: A total of 386 elderly individuals with a mean age of 68.00±6.10 years were interviewed, of whom 200 (51.8%), 289 (74.9%), and 376 (97.4%) were women, educated, and married, respectively. Moreover, 167 (43.2%) had low-to-moderate QoL, and 108 (27.9%) had experienced a moderate level of abuse. QoL and abuse were inversely associated (r=-0.253), with men (β=-0.24) more affected than women (β=-0.21). Musculoskeletal disorders were also strong determinants of QoL in the elderly. QoL was strongly associated with emotional abuse, while abuse was highly related to the social component of QoL. Furthermore, emotional abuse was the type of abuse most significantly associated with the self-care, depression/anxiety, cognitive, and social components of QoL. Sexual abuse, violation of personal rights, and neglect were the main determinants of the physical functioning, life satisfaction, and sexual domains of QoL, respectively. Conclusions: Nearly half of the elderly individuals lacked a high QoL, and at least one-fourth had experienced some form of abuse. Elder abuse was correlated inversely with QoL. Therefore, preventive interventions are recommended to decrease elder abuse in the family, community, and other settings.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2019

An inverse correlation between obesity and arterial stiffness has been reported, but there are no consistent results in elderly subjects. This study examined the relationship between the arterial stiffness measured by the CAVI (cardio-ankle vascular index) and BMI (body mass index) in healthy elderly people. This study included 629 healthy elderly people aged 65 and over who underwent health examinations at a general hospital in Gyeonggi from July 2018 to June 2019. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III of the US National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). Among the criteria of NCEP-ATP III, the waist circumference and obesity criteria were based on the WHO criteria. All subjects underwent a biochemical blood test and an assessment of the CAVI. In both men and women, the CAVI was lower in the obese group than in the normal weight group. Gender (P=0.047), age (P<0.001), BMI (P<0.001), and waist circumference (P=0.008) were factors affecting the CAVI. Gender, high blood pressure, and hyperglycemia were independent positive predictors of the CAVI levels, while obesity was a negative predictor. Therefore, the CAVI and BMI showed an inverse correlation. In conclusion, there was an inverse correlation between the CAVI and BMI in the elderly, and obesity was a negative predictor of the CAVI.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2007

Walking is not only an essential component of the human mobility, but also is a good exercise. Inability to walk freely can reduce an individual's quality of life and independence substantially. Being a relatively low impact activity, walking is particularly good for the elderly and research has shown that regular walking in the elderly reduces the chance of fall-related injuries and mental diseases as well. In spite of the documented benefits of regular walking, it is still difficult to walk without the aid of assistive devices for the frail elderly who have lower extremity problems. Assistive walking devices(AWD), such as crutches, canes, hiking-poles, T-Poles and walkers, are often prescribed to the elderly to make their walking be safe and efficient. Many researchers have demonstrated the effects of AWDs such as reducing lower extremity loading, improved dynamic/gait stability, yet, no study has been done for gait pattern when the elderly gait with AWDs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether T-Poles, one of the AWDs, change the elderly gait pattern. Eight community-dwelling female elderly participated in this study. Laboratory kinematics during walking with T-Poles(PW) and with out T-Poles(NPW) was assessed. PW showed significant increase in step width, stride length, gait velocity and decrease in swing time. No significances were found in lower body joint angles but meaningful trend and pattern were found. Maybe the reason was due to the participants. Our participants were healthy enough so that the effect of T-Poles was minimum. PW also showed typical gait phases which are no single support phase during a gait cycle. It indicates that walking with T-Poles may guarantee safe and confident walking to the frail elderly.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.257-278
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to explore factors influencing them and properties of exercise behaviors among rural elderly in Korea. To implementing it, data were gathered from a total of 356 elderly aged 65 and over living at the Seniors Well-being Villages being developed by the Rural Development Administration in Korea, using the structured questionnaires. also, data were analyzed by the SPSS / windows program. Results show that the exercise behavior of rural elderly was medium level as the average of 3.06 score($1{\sim}5$ score) and 44.2 percent among them didn't exercise regularly and 66.8% didn't participate in sports groups. Second, there were the difference in exercise behavior according to sex and age. Specifically, elderly men exercised more regularly and were aware of proper exercise methods than elderly women. However, there were no difference in exercise behavior according to age. Third, when we analyzed the difference in exercise behavior with the regularity of execution, the elderly who exercise regularly showed higher preference, awareness of necessity, regularity of execution, execution of stretching, participation in sports gatherings and awareness of proper methods than the counterparts. Fourth, we found that unhealthy elderly were more aware of necessity of exercise, exercised regularly, and participated in sports groups frequently than healthy elderly. Also, there was a positive influence of regularity of execution on exercise behavior. These results suggested that regular exercising is very important in health of rural elderly. Therefore, to improve their health, above all, exercise program must be developed

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.114-127
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• 2003

In the process of devising an efficient meal service system for the elderly, 478 elderly were interviewed at 6 different social centers with the elderly meal service program in Seoul area to monitor degree of satisfaction and/or needs of the beneficiaries regarding the program. The survey was conducted during the month of December 2002 by well-trained interviewers using self-developed questionnaire. Results were analyzed statistically using SAS package program. Most of the beneficiaries were low economic class and 76% of them had doctor diagnosed disease(s). Among the beneficiaries of congregate meal service, mean score of 12 aspects of satisfaction was 3.72 out of 5. For most of the questions, female elderly and healthy elderly responded with higher score than male elderly and unhealthy elderly, respectively (p<0.05, p<0.01). On the other hand, beneficiaries of the home-delivered meal service were little bit less satisfied with the service (3.54 out of 5). Compared to the beneficiaries of congregate meal service, larger portion of beneficiaries of home-delivered meal service wanted more meats (28.5 % vs. 17.1 %) and vegetables (23.2 % vs. 12.3 %) as side dishes. On the other hand, the most preferred type of cooking and/or seasoning was stewing for both cases. Based on these findings, it is suggested that more fresh foods should be used than processed foods in the preparation of meals for the elderly and, more fish-, meat- and vegetable- dishes should be served to come up to the needs of the elderly. Onto this, mainly Korean style meals with some intermittent Western, Japanese or Chinese style meals served at the right temperature would suffice most of the elderly needs.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2014

Purpose: Healthy and balanced meal is very important for the elderly to maintain the quality of life in community. Senior meal delivery system and congregate meal services have been played an important role to prevent premature institutionalization of the elderly. Food delivery system and lunch service spaces for the Korean elderly were mostly focused and limited on low-income family. The purpose of this study is to analyze community food services environments for the elderly in the UK, the U.S. and Japan for the possibility of applying those service spaces to Korean community. Methods: Lunch service spaces of these three countries were investigated by literature research and visiting of venues. Pilot study of the elderly meal services in Seoul was done for comparing environments and future research. Results: Lunch service spaces in three countries were mostly community based for accessibility and the types of management were various for the elderly to choose the most suitable services for them. The group dining spaces are usually small and designed to give de-institutional atmosphere. Implications: Food service environments for the elderly in Korea should develop more community based model of food delivery and congregate meal service spaces as well as more de-institutionalized design of those spaces.