• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of depression and its risk factors among older adults using social service centers in one urban community. Methods: The participants were 326 older adults who were aged 60 and older in one urban Korean community. Depression was measured by Korean version of short form Geriatric Depression Scale. Results: The prevalence of depression was 33.74% in this study. Logistic regression analysis showed that older adults who were taking prescribed medications, experiencing more symptoms, being educated less than elementary school and having low family function were more likely to have depression as compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: The findings of this study were expected to promote the screening or preventing strategies for older adults at the risk of depression in the community-dwelling older adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study compared cognitive task-directed functional motor control ability for reaching and kicking movements in younger and older adults. METHODS: Subjects were divided into two groups of younger and older adults, with 13 subjects in each group. Subjects were required to perform a dual task combining a functional movement and cognitive component. The task consisted of reaching and kicking movements. Participants performed indicated movements when a target appeared on a monitor. The target randomly appeared on the monitor every 10 seconds. The total performance time (TPT), joint angular velocity (JAV), and muscle activation time were used to evaluate motor control ability. RESULTS: There were significant differences in all evaluation factors in a comparison of younger and older adults (p<.05). TPT was significantly shorter in older adults, and JAV and muscle activation time were significantly slower than that in the younger adult group. Although the results for older adults were within the normal range for functional assessment, their motor control abilities were significantly worse for cognitive tasks compared with those of younger adults. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that a motor control assessment tool using a cognitive task would be helpful in assessment of motor control ability in healthy older adults.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.341-352
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop & to determine the effect of an tailored falls prevention exercise for older adults. Method: Subjects consisted of 59 older adults (experimental group : 29, control group : 30) living at nursing homes. Experimental group participated in tailored falls prevention exercise for 16 weeks(3 times a week, 50 min every session). Data were collected before the exercise, 16 weeks & 24 weeks after the beginning of exercise. Results: 1) the experimental group significantly improved the muscle strength of hip extensor & flexor, knee extensor & flexor, ankle dorsiflexor, & plantar flexor compared to the control group. 2) the experimental group significantly decreased the mean time for 10 times chair stand. 3) the experimental group significantly increased the standing time on one leg and the number of heel raise for 30 seconds compared to the control group. In addition more older adults in the experimental group completed the tandem stance & semi-tandem stance for 10 seconds than the control group. 4) The experimental group significantly decreased the mean time of 6m walk and the fall frequency compared to the control group. Conclusions: This results suggest that tailored falls prevention exercise for older adults can improve muscle strength, static & dynamic balance and decrease the fall frequency of older adults.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.813-820
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• 2006

Purpose: This study examined the effects of individual reminiscence therapy on older adults' depression, morale, and the quality of life. Methods: The design was a single-group pre-test and post-test study. Subjects consisted of 31 older adults from two senior centers and a welfare center in Seoul. Individual reminiscence therapy was applied to study subjects four times, once a week for an hour at each time. Measurement tools were the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea (GDSSF-K) for depression, Mun Ae-ri's (1996) scale for morale, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) for the quality of life. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and pearson correlation. Results: The application of individual reminiscence therapy reduced older adults' depression (t=-5.65, p=.000), and enhanced older adults' morale (t=4.65, p=.000). The application of individual reminiscence therapy improved older adults' quality of life (t=5.00, p=.000). Conclusion: Findings of the study suggest that individual reminiscence therapy may be applied as a nursing intervention that contributesto the improvement of older adults' quality of life, reduces their depression, and enhances their morale.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.771-780
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how older adults kept their health good at a doctorless farm village. Method: Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 32 participants who were over 65 years old and analyzed in terms of Strauss and Corbin's (1990) grounded theory methodology. Result: The Core Category of health care of older adults was identified as 'enduring physical changes by themselves'. The process of this could be divided into 4 stages: the stage of bearing, the stage of managing daily living activities, the stage of passively collecting information and the stage of minimally utilizing health care services. Older adults accepted the aging process positively but health sources limitation passively, so they managed daily living activities and used natural food for health. In addition, they collected information related to health care and used health care services minimally. Conclusion: We found that participants managed their health passively because of negative attitudes toward active health behaviors of older adults by themselves and the difficulty of access to health care services. Therefore, various community health services for older adults need to be developed to empower older adults in the community.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.37-50
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing communication satisfaction between geriatric caregivers and older adults in urban-rural complex communities. The ultimate goal was to design local community educational programs and policies to enhance communication satisfaction among geriatric caregivers and improve the quality of care services for older adults. Methods: To identify factors influencing communication satisfaction between elderly caregivers and older adults, a survey titled "CCEP: Assessment of Communication Status between Elderly Care Service Providers and Recipients" was conducted from February to July 2020, focusing on rural-urban complex areas. The survey was administered based on providers of elderly healthcare services. The survey targeted 131 respondents involved in providing care services for older adults. The dependent variable of this study was the communication satisfaction reported by elderly caregivers in their interactions with the elderly. The independent variables included perceptions of older adults, factors associated with communication difficulties, and communication efforts. Additionally, gender, working environment, working experience, and the proportion of face-to-face interactions with older adults during caregiving were controlled for the hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: The analysis revealed that communication efforts with older adults significantly influenced communication satisfaction (β=.09, p<0.01). However, perceptions of the elderly and communication hindrance factors did not have a significant impact on communication satisfaction among geriatric caregivers. Conclusion: Effective communication between geriatric caregivers and older adults is crucial for identifying and meeting the needs and demands of caregiving services, and it plays a vital role in overall caregiving service satisfaction. To enhance communication skills and satisfaction among geriatric caregivers and ensure the appropriate fulfillment of elderly care needs in the local community, the development of community-centered, specialized health communication programs and other initiatives will be necessary in the future.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.525-536
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate effectiveness of a peer support program conducted by older community volunteers for older adults living alone. Methods: Thirty volunteers trained as peer supporters were matched with low-income, older adults living alone in the community on gender. Visits occurred on a weekly basis over the 12 month study period, and the volunteers provided peer support for health management to solitary older adults. Data were collected, before the start of the program and again 6 and 12 months after its initialization, from intervention and control groups regarding physical health, general health, mental health, depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze data. Results: By the end of the program, socially isolated older adults in the intervention group had significantly higher scores in physical health and general health than elders in the control group. Significant interaction effects between time and group were found for depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support. Conclusion: The peer support program undertaken by older community volunteers was effective in improving physical health, general health, depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support in socially isolated, low-income, older adults.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.362-365
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• 2010

2010 is the year when the Korean baby boomer generation faces retirement. With the need for affective strategies to keep this population healthy, the government has placed much effort to increase the regular physical activity (PA) level of older adults. Yet the prevalence of active seniors is still relatively low. This paper reviews the recent government strategies and efforts to enhance the physical activity levels of older adults and the PA programs provided in the community settings by major organizations and institutions. In addition, the problems of the current approaches are shown, and based on a review, the author provides five suggestions for promoting the PA level of older adults as follows. First, specific physical activity goals and objectives for older adults should be included in the National Health Plan 2020. Second, the recommendations for PA for seniors, which include a proper intensity, duration and frequency of exercise, should be provided. Third, the role of organizations and institutions should be rearranged for the proper dissemination of government provided community-based exercise programs. Fourth, a standard quality-control system should be provided, and finally, an evidence-based exercise program, which should be specifically created for the older Korean population, should be developed. Physical activity offers opportunities for people to extend the years of their active independent life and reduce functional limitations. To maximize the effects of government efforts to promote PA for seniors, we feel the comments provided in this paper should be closely examined.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.264-274
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the current state of death preparedness and factors related to the death preparedness among community-dwelling older adults in Korea. Methods: A total of 6,879 older adults' data, selected from the Korean National Survey on the Elderly 2014 data, were analyzed. The criteria for selection were responding to the questionnaires directly and normal cognitive function. Stratified sampling logistic regression analysis was conducted on the compiled data. Results: It was seen that 37.3% of older adults were prepared for death; specifically, 28.6% had arranged for resting places, 10.7% had purchased burial clothes, 6.8% had subscribed to mutual aid societies, 0.7% participated in death education, and 0.6% had signed a will. The results of logistic regression indicated that the older adults who were females, older age, religious, highly educated, more satisfied with their economic status, living in rural areas, and participating in more social activities were more likely to prepare for their deaths compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: Education programs that prepare for death need to target marginalized groups in the community, such as male older adults and whose participation in social activities or satisfaction with their economic status are relatively low.

• Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.167-175
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• 2018

Sarcopenia, a common clinical syndrome in older adults, is defined as decreased muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. Since sarcopenia is associated with the incidence of functional decline, falls, and even mortality in older adults, researchers and health care providers have been keen to accumulate clinical evidence to advocate the screening and prevention of sarcopenia progression in older adults. The factors that may accelerate the loss of muscle mass and function include chronic diseases, inactivity, and deficiency in appropriate nutritional support. Among these, nutritional support is considered an initial step to delay the progression of muscle wasting and improve physical performance in community-dwelling older adults. However, a nationwide study suggested that most Korean older adults do not consume sufficient dietary protein to maintain their muscle mass. Furthermore, considering age-associated anabolic resistance to dietary protein, higher protein intake should be emphasized in older adults than in younger people. To develop a dietary protein recommendation for older adults in Korea, we reviewed the relevant literature, including interventional studies from Korea. From these, we recommend that older adults consume at least 1.2 g of protein per kg of body weight per day (g/kg/day) to delay the progression of muscle wasting. The amount we recommend (1.2 g/kg/day) is 31.4% higher than the previously suggested recommended daily allowance (i.e., 0.91 g/kg/day) for the general population of Korea. Also, evidence to date suggests that the combination of exercise and nutritional support may enhance the beneficial effects of protein intake in older adults in Korea. We found that the current studies are insufficient to build population-based guidelines for older adults, and we call for further researches in Korea.