• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.233-240
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• 2010

This research is designed to study the residence environment of the elderly residing in three different types of residence - the local community, silver towns and nursing homes and compare their level of social support and life satisfaction of the residents. The subjects of the study was those aged 65 and older who live single and couple 68 residing in the local community, 32 in silver town and 32 in nursing homes. The result of analysis is as follows; 1) the residence environment is different in the three types of residence in terms of number of children, living with a spouse, subjective economic status, and participation in group activities; 2) as for social support, emotional support is the highest among the elderly residing in the local community and declines among those in silver town and the lowest in nursing homes, which suggests that the local community still maintain the support system for the elderly, however it declines in silver town and drop further in nursing homes. But in terms of instrumental support, there is no meaningful difference in the three types of residence. The result shows that the elderly residing in nursing homes are supported by systematic medical and residence service which make up for instrumental support Similar to those in the local community and silver town; 3) life satisfaction is the highest among those residing in nursing homes, however there was little meaningful difference. The result means quality of living is similar among three different types of residence. What is interesting is those living in nursing homes has similar level of life satisfaction despite their lowest emotional support.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.31-39
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• 2009

Population of senior citizens in Korea has been on the increase rapidly through decrease in population by falling birth rate and extension the average life span by development of medical technology and improving people's standard of living. As the booming population of senior citizens, it has appeared to problems of the elderly such as protection, health and supporting and welfare facilities for the elderly have increased there but it leaves something to be desired at plan and improvement of qualitative environment which the elderly's living space. It attaches importance to valuate about nursing homes such as management, quality of service, manufacture of physical environment and so on, so it is required to consider the elderly's emotion on environmental valuation. Healing environment that is a important fact of indoor environment operates powerfully upon the nursing homes as well as general medical facilities. It needs to healing environment for the elderly's physical health and mental stable life, we should know importance of healing environment that affects the elderly's health and life. The elderly have experienced physical, mental, and social changes with advancing years. The people who use the nursing homes are the elderly. We should find fact of healing environment as the elderly's characteristics and have to find healing environment that gives aid to the elderly's health in the nursing homes. In care for the elderly is not house care, it has focused on the elderly's health for improving their life and leading comfortable life.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.71-87
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examines the daylighting design factors of Korean dementia nursing homes, in order to realize a therapeutic environment based on the therapeutic effect of light in the rapidly aging trend with an huge increase in the population of dementia in Korea. Methods: Through literature reviews, this study aims to theoretically examine the therapeutic light environment for the elderly with dementia, derive daylighting design factors of Korean dementia nursing homes, and analyze their detailed design factors. Results: The result of this study can be summarized into two points. The first one is that the daylighting design factors reflected in dementia nursing homes are derived into six factors: building layout, windows, glazing, shading devices, spaces, and interior finishings that determine the availability of daylight. The second one is that the detailed daylighting design factors are shown as primary and secondary detailed design factors, and the main values to be considered when applying these factors into dementia nursing homes are analyzed as maximizing daylight availability, optimization of the possibility of therapeutic view, and anti-glare. Implications: The daylighting design factors will contribute to maximizing the availability of daylight, optimizing the possibility of view, and minimizing the glare in the living spaces of dementia nursing homes in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.216-227
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed at understanding terminal care provided in nursing homes. Method: An interview survey with staff in charge of terminal care was conducted in 97 nursing homes using questionnaires. The questionnaire was reviewed by 3 experts and pretested at 5 facilities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Result: Dyspnea was the most prevalent symptom predicting death. The most prevalent services were vital sign check for physical care, providing services by talking despite an unconscious state for psychosocial care, and respecting the faith of the elder for spiritual care. Employment of a registered nurse showed a significant difference in tube feeding (p=.035), analgesic administration (p=.022), informing the elder of end-of-life state (p=.020), helping an elderly person say good-byes through a visit with friends and acquaintances (p=.023), and helping express feelings related to death (p=.002). Lack of service was noticed for elderly resident, family, and staff after death of an elder. Problems related to terminal care were indifference of family members, difficulty in obtaining medical prescription, difficulty in predicting death, and so forth. Conclusion: Terminal care must be improved by making specific guidelines and it must become a part of nursing home evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.116-127
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• 2009

Purpose: This article aimed to identify nurses' experience of practice in nursing homes. Method: Using phenomenological approach for qualitative research, the participants were 8 nurses who were working at nursing homse in C city. The data was analyzed by using phenomenological methodology by Colaizzi. Results: Five theme clusters were derived from the data. They were: burden (independent decision making in clinical situations, tension of as a multifunctional member); lowered self-esteem (exhaustion, relative self-evaluation is low, comparing with others); conflict (negative image of elderly, communication break with elderly family, monitoring of nursing home staff); worth (slight improvement of elderly health state, trust and recognition, intimacy); and self-reflection (need for knowledge extension, effort towards enhancing virtue, perception of importance in their health management). Conclusion: The results showed that nursing home nurses experienced negative aspects of various nursing practice, suggesting the ways to solve their negative experience.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.345-358
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a protocol that would help prevent accidents, apply physical restraints properly, and reduce the use of physical restraints in nursing homes. Method: A review of the literature and analysis of existing statutes and regulations were used to develop the preliminary protocol. To test the validity of this preliminary protocol, ten experts were selected from academia and clinical practice to review the protocol. The initial protocol was finalized after it had been reviewed by experts and tested for clinical validity in five different nursing homes. Result: The protocol consists of objectives, definitions and accident probability assessment, principle of using physical restraints, monitoring and documentation of physical restraints. Conclusion: The findings of this study can be used as guidelines to focus on preventing accidents arising out of use of physical restraints, assessing the probability of accidents, and reducing the use of physical restraints through preventive interventions. This will be helpful to prevent ethical, physical, or psychological problems arising from use of physical restraints and to protect the rights of elderly people in nursing homes.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate sleep quality in older adults in nursing home with objective data collection. Methods: Participants included 74 older adults in nursing homes in Korea aged 65 years or above. Data were collected using a wearable device (Fitbit), salivary melatonin level and Sleep Disorder Inventory (SDI). The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to examine whether there was any correlation between sleep-related variables such as Total Sleep Time (TST), Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, shallow sleep, deep sleep, salivary melatonin level and SDI. Results: There were distortion of sleep structure, as TST comprised short REM sleep (15.93±5.47%), long shallow sleep (74.18±8.08%) and short deep sleep (9.89±5.03%). Also, salivary melatonin levels were low (15.06±7.77 pg/mL). Moreover, we found than melatonin was significantly associated with TST (r = .251, p= .044), REM sleep (r= .294, p= .020) and deep sleep (r= .391, p= .002). But there was no correlation between SDI and other sleeprelated variables. Conclusion: These findings highlight that insufficient sleep structure is associated with the salivary melatonin level among older adults in nursing home. We suggest developing programs to promote sleep quality of older adults in nursing homes.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.67-84
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• 2022

This study aimed to explore the status of food service outsourcing behavior of long-term care institutions (LTCIs) through a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire administered between July 16th and August 7th, 2020. The survey respondents were either dietitians or facility managers, who worked at 731 nursing homes, 477 group homes, and 673 day-care centers. Approximately 25.9% of nursing homes, 11.7% of group homes, and 33.1% of day-care centers used a managed-services company to operate their food service units. The main reason for outsourcing food service by nursing homes was related to the staffing of dietitians and cooks, whereas group homes and day-care centers outsourced food services due to factors relating to meal costs and the cooking process. Almost all the LTCIs entered into private contracts for outsourced food services. Only a few food service contracts included the types of meals, nutrition standards such as protein and calories per meal, and the parameter or ratio of food cost. Of the respondents, 84.5% from nursing homes, 87.5% from group homes, and 87.1% from day-care centers agreed that the quality of outsourced food services of the LTCIs should be regulated. Meals are essential for maintaining the health and functional status of LTCI users. As more LTCIs outsource their food services, we suggest the following: (1) Increasing the minimum dietitian staffing standards for LTCIs as per the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act and requiring at least one dietitian for every nursing home, (2) Making it mandatory to use a standard food service contract template when drafting food service contract, and (3) Developing realistic standards for food service operations considering the size and operation type of the LTCIs.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.135-147
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop evidence-based guidelines for infection control in nursing homes in Korea (ENIK). Methods: Three steps were planned for the development which were developing a draft and testing the content validity. First, the draft was based on evidence and developed through focus group interviews with nurses in nursing homes, a comprehensive review of international guidelines and literature, and systematic reviews of interventions for infection control and outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Clinical applicability was established through reviews of nursing records and job assignments in one nursing home. The final step consisted of experts evaluating the content validity. The ENIK was revised to fit Korean nursing homes. Results: The ENIK consisted of recommendations in 9 compositions and a one-page practical algorithm. The principles of infection control were presented by statements and specific strategies were recommended in resident care programs. The infection control practical algorithm was organized into 3 steps: screening at admission, prevention, and control at the early stage. The practice to control infection was composed of a 5-step process. Conclusion: The ENIK will contribute to improving the competency of infection control practice because it provides standardized practice and is tailored to Korean nursing homes.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2017

Although nursing homes where physically weak seniors live must be planned as an healing environment for maintaining and improving holistic health conditions of the senior residents, many of the nursing homes in Korea are currently placed in poor environment due to lack of minimum criteria or design guideline for spatial planning. Therefore, this study aims to extract healing elements shown in nursing home design guidelines that have been developed and utilized in several developed welfare countries where aging has started before Korea. The subjects of this study were 4 international nursing homes design guidelines; and they were analyzed by the content analysis technique. As for analysis units, design guideline items were selected; and spatial composition, three dimensions of health, and healing elements for supporting the health conditions were used as analysis categories. As results, firstly, among total 259 guidelines, the guidelines that commonly applied to all the spaces turned out to be the most, then the guidelines to be applied in bathroom turned out to be the most. Secondly, in terms of holistic health, the proportion of design guideline for supporting physical health turned out to be highest followed by the one for mental health and social health. Thirdly, In terms of healing elements, items for safety, accessibility, comfort, and convenience that supported physical health and cognition that supported mental health turned out to be high. This study is expected to provide the framework for comprehensively understanding the existing design guidelines of nursing homes in the perspective of healing and to be utilized as fundamental resource for spatial planning to improve healing effects in the nursing homes in the future.