• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.427-437
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to test effects of a cognition activation program on ADL, cognitive functions, depression, and QOL in the institutionalized elderly. Methods: The subjects were 40 elders who were admitted to a nursing home, with 20 of them in the experimental group and the other 20 in the control group. Data were collected from September 1 to December 17, 2012. The experimental group participated in a 12 week intervention program. ADL, cognitive functions, depression, and QOL were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by t-test and regression analysis of the SPSS and AMOS programs. Results: ADL (t=2.468, p=.017), depression (t=-2.625, p=012), and QOL (t=2.428, p=.020) were more significantly improved in the experimental group than in the control group, but there were no statistical differences in cognitive function between the two groups. Cognitive functions had positive effects on ADL (CR=-2.263, p=.024) and depression affected QOL (CR=-7.248, p<.001). Conclusion: The intervention program had positive effects on ADL, depression, and QOL except cognition. Cognitive functions of elders dramatically decrease after age 85, and it takes too much time to improve it. Therefore the program for the improvement of cognitive functions should be provided as early as possible.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.12-25
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• 1999

This study examines individual determinants of hospital days in community-dwelling elders by estimating a linear structural equation model based upon Andersen's behavioral model. Data were collected through a national survey of elders in Korea in 1994. The subjects for this secondary data analysis were 1687 non-institutionalized elders aged 60 years or older. Except for the effect of age and gender on family help. the predisposing components had direct effects on the enabling components. Of the effects of the enabling components. family help had a direct effect on self-evaluated health; economic status had a direct effect on chronic disease and self-evaluated health; and access had a direct effect on chronic disease. functional health status and self-evaluated health. Of the enabling components. residence and family help directly affected hospital days. Self-evaluated health revealed the greatest direct effect on hospital days followed by functional health. Overall. the effects of the predisposing components and the enabling components on hospital days were not prominent. Since the model explained only $4\%$ of the variance in hospital days. the magnitude of the effect of the need components cannot be judged in terms of equity of distribution of health services. In particular. the effect of family help in the model reveals the importance of family support in health management of elders. The implications of these analyses for improving the proposed model of hospital days were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.678-690
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to identify skin health status and the factors influencing skin hydration in the institutionalized elderly. Methods: The subjects were 139 elders living in 2 nursing homes in Seoul. Data for skin health status were collected by measurement of skin hydration, sebum, trans-epidermal water loss and pH using Corneometer, Sebumeter, Tewameter and Skin pH-meter on face, flank, arm and leg. Baseline data were collected by a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: Skin hydration and pH were relatively low especially on arms and legs but sebum and TEWL were not low, relatively. There were significant differences in skin health status according to gender, smoking, alcohol intake, and bath cleanser. There was significant positive correlation between skin-hydration and bath-time, TEWL and bath-frequency. Smoking, bath-cleanser, bath-time. pH and gender were identified as the significant influencing factors of skin hydration. Conclusion: Smoking, bath-time and pH need to be considered as important control factors for increasing skin health status in the institutionalized elderly.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the changes of physical function, perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function, and functional independence in the institutionalized aged according to functional group activity program (self help Tai Chi exercise plus functional task). Methods: Study subjects were 20 institutionalized aged from June to October in 2010. The subjects received functional group activity program two times a week for 15 weeks. Physical function (grip strength, coordination, lower extremity strength, balance, gait, trunk flexibility), perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function(depression, social skill), and functional independence were measured before and after the program. Results: The subjects showed significantly increased physical function (coordination, lower extremity strength, gait, trunk flexibility), perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function (depression, social skill), and functional independence. The functional group activity program may be an effective strategy for institutionalized elders to enhance their functions. Conclusion: The functional group activity program may be effective on elderly institutions which have limitation in human, material, environmental resources.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.334-342
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise on flexibility, balance, walking ability, muscle strength, bone mineral density, and fracture risk in institutionalized elders. Method: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent comparison group was utilized, and 53 older adults living in one institution were recruited and assigned to one of two groups, experimental group (18) or comparison (20). Both groups completed posttest measures at 6 months. There was a 31% rate of dropouts. Tai Chi exercise was provided twice a week for 24 weeks. Outcome measurements were conducted by a physiotherapist at a university hospital health promotion center who did not know the group assignment. Results: At 6 months, the experimental group had significantly greater grip strength(t=2.12, p=.04), back muscle strength (t=2.42, p=.02), balance (t=5.31, p<001), and flexibility (t=3.57, p<.001). They also showed significantly greater bone mineral density of lumbar spine and femur, and reduced fracture risk. Conclusion: Tai Chi exercise was safely and effectively used with institutionalized elders for 6 months and significantly improved physical fitness, bone mineral density along with a reduction in fracture risk. Whether Tai Chi exercise would lead to prevention of fall episodes and fall related fractures in this population will require further study.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.126-136
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze related factors for major nursing diagnoses used in caring for institutionalized elders. Method: This study was a descriptive study. The participants were 92 residents in a long-term care facility in Wonju, selected by convenience sampling. The instrument was a checklist designed on the basis of the related factors suggested by NANDA (1997) and a literature review. Data was collected by chart review, observation, and interviews with the participants. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the SPSS WIN program. Result: The most frequent nursing diagnosis was 'risk for injury', 'self-esteem disturbance', 'activity intolerance', 'impaired phyical mobility', and 'powerlessness'. The most frequent component for related factors for the five component for each nursing diagnosis was the physical component, followed by the social component. Common related factors for the nursing diagnoses were 'pain', 'change of emotional state/disorder', 'cognitive disorder', 'change of physical structure and function', and 'physical impairment', and 'immobility'. Conclusion: The results of this study can contribute to the development of appropriate nursing intervention programs for elders (eg. 'Injury Prevention Programs', 'Self-esteem Improvement Programs' etc.). Clinical guidelines that gerontological nurses can use to accurately assess health problems and select appropriate nursing interventions may be developed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.620-628
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose was to identify the effects of a Tai Chi exercise program on physical fitness, fall related perception and health status among institutionalized elderly. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was carried out with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. There were 23 subjects in the experimental group and 24 in the control group. The data was gathered by structured questionnaires about fall related perception, and health status. Physical fitness was measured by an exercise therapist with a blind principle. Results: At the completion of the 12 weeks Tai Chi exercise program, flexibility (F=4.50, p=.00), and ability to balance (F=3.27, p=.00) had increased significantly. Fall related perception showed significant improvement in the fear of falling (F=-3.52, p=.00). Physical functioning (F=3.38, p=.00), role limitation-physical (F=2.67, p=.01), role limitation-emotional (F=2.47, p=.02). and general health (F=3.88, p=.00) in health status showed significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: The study findings revealed Tai Chi exercise as a useful nursing intervention for elderly that enhances flexibility and balance, decreases fall related perception and also increases the health status. Further research is warranted to compare the potential effects of Tai Chi exercise and its health benefits from other types of exercise or martial arts.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effect of multidimensional program on cognition, physical function and depression among institutionalized elderly and the relationship between study variables and resident's characteristics and health related variables. Method: This study involved a one group pre and post test, comparison of variables over a 12 month period. To investigate this research question, data of 114 residents of a nursing home were analyzed. Results: There was statistically significant difference in MMSE-K (t=-2.63, p=.010), ADL (t=-2.85, p=.005), and depression (t=4.66, p=.000) before and after program participation. Conclusion: These results indicate that, for a year their regular involvement in a broad spectrum of multidimensional program activities can improve in cognitive, physical and emotional perspectives, but the level of IADL decreased significantly (t=-6.72, p=.000). Further testing is required with the control group, to compare with community resident elders in order to explore the effects on social skill of elderly.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.329-337
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• 2007

Purpose: Increasing numbers of Koreans have immigrated to the United States since the late 1960s. The first generation of Korean immigrants or their parents become old and institutionalized in American nursing home setting. Although the Korean elders would experience many cultural differences in the nursing home, no study to date has investigated their everyday lives on how they live through their later lives within a different cultural environment from their own. Methods: Using ethnographic methodology, the purpose of this paper was to illustrate Korean residents' experiences and daily lives in a nursing home located in an east coastal city in the U.S. Participant observation, filed notes, semi-structured interviews were utilized by means of data collection. Eighteen Korean residents were observed, and five of them and two nurses participated in informal qualitative interviews. Results: The overriding theme from the findings is "thrown in a different world." Three sub-themes include "constant struggles in making themselves understood", "dealing with culturally inappropriate nursing care," and "maintaining their own ways of life". Conclusions: The discovered themes reflect culturally isolated lives of the participants and open a venue for designing a culturally congruent nursing care for Korean elders living in the U.S. nursing homes.

• Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing
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• v.20 no.sup1
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• pp.127-136
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of using intelligent robot based nursing practice as discussed in previous research and also, to propose directions for robot care for elders. Methods: For this study 28 previous researches using robots in health care field were reviewed and related research trends introduced. Results: Robot applications in the healthcare field were mainly for rehabilitation, surgery, interaction, and nursing assistance through robotics. Especially types of robot include pet type robots, humanoid robots, surgical robots, rehabilitation robots, robot suit and entertainment robots with monitors. The research participants were patients with dementia and institutionalized elderly people. It was found that a human-robot interaction was effective from physical, mental, emotional and social aspects. Conclusion: Robots can be used for various purposes such as nursing assistance, patient health promotion and education. It is necessary to reduce the human burden of care work using robots and to introduce robot care programs which can meet the needs of elders. Therefore, korean nurses should make efforts to change their practice to new geriatric nursing through repeated research based on the scientific data.