• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.431-444
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to verify the effects of a memory and visual-motor integration program for older adults based on self-efficacy theory. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was implemented in this quasi-experimental study. The participants were 62 older adults from senior centers and older adult welfare facilities in D and G city (Experimental group=30, Control group=32). The experimental group took part in a 12-session memory and visual-motor integration program over 6 weeks. Data regarding memory self-efficacy, memory, visual-motor integration, and depression were collected from July to October of 2014 and analyzed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test using PASW Statistics (SPSS) 18.0 to determine the effects of the interventions. Results: Memory self-efficacy (t=2.20, p=.031), memory (Z=-2.92, p=.004), and visual-motor integration (Z=-2.49, p=.013) increased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. However, depression (Z=-0.90, p=.367) did not decrease significantly. Conclusion: This program is effective for increasing memory, visual-motor integration, and memory self-efficacy in older adults. Therefore, it can be used to improve cognition and prevent dementia in older adults.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to identify characteristics and severity assessed by Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) among 2,496 older adults aged 65 and over who visited an emergency department (ED) located in Chuncheon city. Methods: Data were collected via electronic medical records from two hospitals from January to December of 2016. Chi square test and logistic regression were applied using SPSS 22.0. Results: 53.5% of the participants were women and 17.6% of visits were done by aged 85 and older. ED visits by ambulance were 33.9%. More than two-third of older adults' ED visits were emergent status. Severity of the ED visits of older adults were rated by KTAS. Commonly reported chief complaints of the ED visits were dizziness, dyspnea, chest pain, abdominal pain, and hypoalbuminemia. Among them, dizziness, chest pain, dyspnea, and hypoalbuminemia were related factors for being-emergent condition. Conclusion: Strategies for older adults' chief complaints are needed in order to reduce unexpected ED visits.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.393-402
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the risk of dysphagia among older adults in senior centers and to find the relationships between the risk of dysphagia and dysphagia-specific quality of life. Methods: The participants were 260 community-dwelling older adults, aged 65 years in two senior centers. Data were collected by self-report questionnaires or face to face interviews. The instruments were the modified dysphagia risk assessment scale for elderly and dysphagia-specific quality of life questionnaire. The data were analyzed using t-test, $x^2$-test, logistic regression, and pearson's correlation. Results: 162 older adults (62.3%) were classified as having the risk of dysphagia. Severe dry mouth (OR=15.677, CI=2.986~82.297), neurologic disease (OR=10.125, CI=1.092~93.899), gastritis (OR=5.731, CI=1.482~22.173), denture discomfort (OR=2.969, CI=1.016~8.677), teeth discomfort (OR=2.61, CI=1.311~5.196) were the significant factors predicting the risk of dysphagia. There is a significant correlation between the risk of dysphagia and dysphagia-specific quality of life. Conclusion: Dysphagia could be a major health problem among community dwelling older adults. It can affect the dysphagia-specific quality of life. Older adults having severe dry mouth, neurologic disease, or gastritis should receive dysphagia risk assessment and proper management on a regular basis. An effective nursing intervention needs to be developed for the older adults with risk factors of dysphagia.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.77-105
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• 2017

As our society enters an aged society, it is becoming increasingly important to resolve digital divide of older adults. However, the digital divide of the older adults are generally neglected compared to other information poor. The aim of this study is to propose considerations for library policy development in order to resolve the digital divide of the older adults. The study examined regulation of the Framework Act on National Informatization and the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Also it investigated guidelines and current status of services to older adults in the library. The study suggested that public libraries should be used as a basic base for the services to resolve the digital divide to older adults across the country, and the services should be organized systematically and sustainably through public libraries.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between upper limb muscle strength and cognitive function in older Korean adults. A total of 130 Community-dwelling older adults, who were able to independently conduct activities of daily living, participated in the study. We assessed upper limb muscle strength using a handgrip strength and arm curl test, and their cognitive function using a Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and general practitioner assessment of cognition (GPCOG) tests. Out of 130 participants, 26 (20%) had normal cognitive functions, while 104 older adults (80%) had mild cognitive impairments (MCI). Handgrip strength was significantly different between older adults with and without MCI (p<.05) and was related to MoCA and GPCOG (p<.05). In the result, there is a correlation between physical ability and cognitive function of the older adults. Therefore, it is necessary to develop exercise program to improve mental health.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The progression of the center of pressure (COP) velocity of the stance phase may have important roles for predicting gait speed in older adults with cognitive decline. This study was conducted to identify the correlation between gait speed and the velocity of COP progression during the stance phase in older adults with cognitive decline. METHODS: Forty adults aged 65 years or older (twenty participants without cognitive decline, 20 participants with cognitive decline) were recruited. The COP progression velocity was measured using an F-scan pressure-sensitive insole system. The stance phase was divided into four sub-stages. (loading response, mid-stance, terminal stance, and pre-swing). Gait speed, double support phase, and cadence were also measured. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Gait speed was associated with the COP progression velocity in midstance (r = .719, p < .05), cadence (r = .719, p < .05) and the COP progression velocity in loading response velocity (r = .515, p < .05) in older adults with cognitive decline. However, no correlation was found in older adults without cognitive decline. In multiple regression analysis using gait speed as a dependent variable, the COP progression velocity in midstance and cadence were significant predictors of gait speed, with the COP progression velocity being the most significant predictor. CONCLUSION: The COP progression velocity is an important factor for predicting gait speed in older adults with cognitive decline, suggesting that the cognitive function influences gait speed and the velocity of COP progression.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.341-358
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a person-centered fall prevention program for older adults with dementia in long-term care hospitals. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The study sample included 42 older adults with dementia (experimental group: 21, control group: 21) and 42 caregivers (experimental group: 21, control group: 21). The program comprised 48 sessions held over 12 weeks and included exercise intervention with resistance and balance, dance walking (45~60 min, three times/week), cognitive and emotional intervention (35~50 min, once per week), and person-centered fall prevention education (10 min, once per week). The program for caregivers consisted of six educational sessions (i.e., fall prevention competency enhancement and person-centered care strategy education, 80 min, once per week) for six weeks. Data were collected before participation and 12 weeks after program completion from February 18 to May 12, 2019. Data analysis was conducted using the chi-square test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test with SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: The experimental group of older adults with dementia showed significant improvement in physical and cognitive functions, and a decrease in depression, and behavioral and psychological symptoms, when compared with the control group. caregivers in the experimental group exhibited significant improvement in fall-related knowledge and person-centered care of older adults with dementia compared to the control group. Conclusion: The study findings indicate that this program was effective as a nursing intervention for fall prevention among older adults with dementia in long-term care hospitals.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.451-463
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examined the reciprocal relationships between depression and income, and gender differences in these relationships among older adults in South Korea. Methods: Using 2015 to 2019 of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS), we studied 6,070 older adults (2,394 men and 3,676 women) aged 60 years over in 2015. The generalized estimating equation was employed to explore the effect of an individual income on depression and the reverse causal link-that of depression on income. Results: The study found the reciprocal relationships between income and depression. Income has a significant impact on depression. Higher-income was linked to decreased risks of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scores among older adults (B = - 0.121, p < 0.001). Estimates of the reverse causal link show that higher CES-D scores were also linked to income reduction among Korean older adults (B = - 0.007, p < 0.001). In addition, we also observed gender differences in the impact of income on depression but not in the reverse causal link. Income has more detrimental to psychological consequence for older men (B = - 0.108, p < 0.001) than older women (B = - 0.057, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The finding implies that both psychological and social protection policies for the elderly are needed in view of gender perspective.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.820-830
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• 1997

Sleep is an essential component for health and the quality of life of individuals, and is affected by multiple factors. Thereby, sleep impairment is known to be frequent even in healthy subjects. The purpose of the study is to compare sleep patterns and related factors between healthy young and old adults and to identify aging effects upon sleep in a cross-sectional way. The survey questionnaire was developed by translation and modification of two well-known sleep questionnaires which were originally developed by Monroe(1967) and Ellis, et al. (1982). Discussion with experts and pilot study were completed to finalize the contents of the questionnaire that was used in this study. Results are as follows : 1. Sleep complaints were lower in older adults. 2. The most frequent variables that explain sleep satisfaction were feeling rested in the morning in the older adults and feeling rested and failing asleep within five minutes in the young adults. 3. Regarding sleep-disturbing factors, physical factors were more frequently reported in the older adults and environmental factors are reported more frequently in the young adults, and there was no difference related to the emotional factors between the two groups. 4. Young adults were practiced strategies for better sleep more often than the older adults, and they were mainly in-home activities just before sleep. 5. Sleep patterns which change with aging were as follows : going to bed and waking up earlier : not staying in the bed long after waking up ; getting harder to fall asleep ; frequent arousal after sleep onset ; getting harder to go back to sleep after arousal during night sleep. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that sleep and related factors of the young and the older adults are different. Also, sleep patterns change with aging and those changes seem to be negative for sleep in the elderly. Repeated studies are needed to establish more concrete information regarding sleep patterns. In addition, further research is needed to develop more reliable, valid, and feasible sleep measure tools, and to develop and evaluate nursing interventions.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.583-600
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to explore qualitatively what kind of coping strategy the Korean older adults use when they are depressed and why. Participants were users, older than 60, of an elderly welfare center in Seoul, and answers of 34 respondents who experienced depression were included in the analysis. The collected data were analyzed through content analysis. The results of the analysis showed that strategies to cope with depression used by participants were composed of 6 domains and 11 sub-domains: health behavior (medical approach / exercise and diet), family and social contact (social interaction / going out and going on a trip / communication with family), Religious activities (Religious activities), lifelong education (hobbies / educational activities), productive activities (labor), health risk behaviors (drinking and gambling / resignation). The depression coping strategies of the older adults and their characteristics are as follows. First, older adults used diverse problem-focused coping strategies to cope with depression. Second, older adults considered various coping strategies together and used them simultaneously. Third, the facility space for older adults functions as a shelter. Fourth, although there were cases where medical approach was used, the intention to reuse was very low. Through this study, the following suggestions were made to help older adults cope with depression more successfully. First, access to various coping strategies should be promoted. Second, more places where older adults can spend their time comfortably need to be provided. Third, resistance to mental health care should be resolved.