• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 2017

Korea is expected to become a super-aged society by 2050. Given an aging population and the increasing pressure for the early retirement, a sufficient social safety net for elderly population becomes important. The Korean government introduced public reverse mortgage program in 2007, which is a product for aging seniors and the elderly, The number of reverse mortgage subscribers has also steadily grown. The demand continues to grow, but the reverse mortgage over a long period of time is a highly uncertain and risky product in the position of guarantee or lending institution. Thus, suitable demand prediction of the reverse mortgage subscribers is necessary for stable and sustainable operation. This study uses a Bass diffusion model to forecast the long-term demand for reverse mortgage and provides insight into reverse mortgage by forecasting demand for stability and substantiality of the loan product. We represent the projections of new subscribers on the basis of the data obtained from Korea Housing Finance Corporation. Results show that potential market size of Korean reverse mortgage reaches approximately 760,000-1,160,000 households by 2020. We validate the results by comparing the estimate of the cumulative number of subscribers with that found in literature.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.379-388
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• 2012

Objective: This study developed a new shower carrier prototype to reduce caregivers' muscle burden and to increase use convenience by reflecting the needs of domestic long-term care institutions. Background: In the long-term care institutions, one of the ADL(Activities of Daily Life) factors is bathing/showering. Recently, bath/shower-assisting equipment is actively being introduced in care institutions to reduce the caregivers' care cost, but most of the domestic equipment was designed to imitate foreign products and rarely reflected the needs of care institutions. Method: Based on Korean elderly people's body information, the bed size(length: 1,900mm, width: 650mm) was set-up, and a variable headrest with a newly designed headform was developed to provide the comfort for the elderly and convenience for caregivers. To reduce caregivers' muscle burden on transferring and showering activities, a 3-step column lifting module equipped with dual actuators(lowest/highest levels from the ground: 600/1,100mm, Stroke: 500mm) was developed, and the wheelbase parameter(length: 1,250mm, width: 580mm) was defined securing the turn-over safety of the shower carrier. The drivability tests were performed for the prototype and foreign product, and the male and female subject's muscle activities were measured through the tests. Results: The structural stability of the shower carrier prototype was secured by finite element analysis, and the muscle activities of the subjects through the drivability tests largely decreased in the prototype, compared to the foreign product. Conclusion: In this study, a new shower carrier prototype was developed to possibly reduce caregivers' muscle burden and to increase use convenience based on the needs of long-term care institutions. It was expected that the drivability performance of the prototype could be relatively superior to that of the foreign product. Application: The results obtained from the study can be applied for the optimal development of a shower carrier including other equipment to effectively care for the elderly.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 2008

A nutritional supplement was developed aiming at correcting the most common nutrient and caloric deficiencies encountered in elderly people (${\geq}60$ years old). The protein source was a mixture of whey protein isolates (WPI) and bovine collagen hydrolysate (BCH) with high nutritional and functional qualities making up 12% of the formulation. The carbohydrate fraction was composed of sucrose, inulin (soluble fiber), and fructo-oligosaccharide (prebiotic). The most commonly deficient essential minerals and vitamins were also included. Acceptance of the product was good according to both an elderly panel and a laboratory panel composing of both sexes and various ages. The stability of the formulations was evaluated and the estimated shelf life at room temperature (ca. $27^{\circ}C$) was approximately 4 months.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.124-136
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the perception and preferences regarding commercial universal design foods (UDF) made with different ingredients. A one-to-one interview was used for data collection and the survey was conducted on 41 elderly people (over age 65; males: 11, females: 30) attending senior welfare centers in Seoul. Twelve UDF samples were collected, which were widely sold in Japan. Majority of respondents prepared meals (53.7%) and ate alone (43.9%), respectively. The preferred cooking level of elderly food was "ready to eat (RTE)" (43.9%) or "ready to heat (RTH)" (43.9%) rather than fresh cut product. In most, the elderly had no problem with chewing-action (90.2%). Generally, food ingredients such as grain, meat, seafood and fruits showed higher preference than vegetable and nuts. Among 12 UDF samples, pumpkin gratin (4.17) and peach flavored jelly (4.27) showed higher preferences among tested samples on a 5-point facial hedonic scale. There were no significant differences in overall preferences of all samples by difficulty in terms of chewing and swallowing of respondents. Demi-glace sauce hamburger and pot sukiyaki were more preferred as age increased (p<0.05).

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.5 no.10
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• pp.1751-1768
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• 2011

Falls are one of the most concerned accidents for elderly people and often result in serious physical and psychological consequences. Many researchers have studied fall detection techniques in various domain, however none released to a commercial product satisfying user requirements. We present a systematic modeling and evaluating procedure for best classification performance and then do experiments for comparing the performance of six procedures to get a statistical classifier based wrist-type fall detector to prevent dangerous consequences from falls. Even though the wrist may be the most difficult measurement location on the body to discern a fall event, the proposed feature deduction process and fall classification procedures shows positive results by using data sets of fall and general activity as two classes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2011

Purpose : The purposes of this study were to investigate the age-related difference in balance ability in the elderly over 65 years and to verify the clinical usefulness of the functional reach test (FRT) for balance evaluation of the elderly through the sensory organization test (SOT). Methods : The subjects were forty-six community dwelling elderly people over 65 years old in order to verify the correlation of balance measures and to compare the balance ability. Balance was measured using the FRT and the six sub-equilibrium scores and the composite equilibrium score of the SOT. Pearson's product correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationships among these measurements of balance. Results : There was a significant difference in functional reach by age in the elderly (p<.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the FRT and the age of the elderly (r=-.396, p<.01). There was also significant high positive correlation between the FRT and the eye closed sway surface (EC/SS) (r=.789, p<.01), and composite equilibrium score (r=.548, p<.01) of the SOT. Conclusion : Thus, it is possible to use the FRT as a quantitative measure of balance, rather than the SOT, which is more expensive and complicated to evaluate elderly people. According to the results of this study, the use of the FRT is required clinically to objectively measure the balance of elderly people in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.161-168
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• 2020

This study is designed to develop a walker to assist the elderly in safe, independent walking. To this end, problems were identified through analysis of the walker for the elderly and user observations were used to identify problems and needs. The product analysis showed that most elderly walkers tend to prioritize their functions. In addition, user observations showed that most users had positive perceptions about the function, but that structural aspects, such as operation methods and stability, had negative consequences. A total of five design guidelines were derived based on the problems and needs derived. The design guidelines were designed to focus on improving structural problems rather than functional parts, and to orientate safety over functional priorities. Five design guidelines derived from this study could be used as basic data for the manufacture of walkers that reflect the views and needs of the elderly in the future in the manufacture and design of walkers for the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.184-203
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• 2019

This study examines the multilateral characteristics of elderly body shapes by applying body measurement items and obesity indices (BMI, WHR, WHtR, WC, and flatness). The subjects were 397 males, 378 females aged 70-85 from the $6^{th}$ Size Korea and 132 males, 212 females aged 60-69, 596 males, 650 females aged 20-29 from the $7^{th}$ Size Korea. In order to examine the body size differences among age groups, age was divided into 7 groups (20-24, 25-29, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80-85). Both elderly males and females showed lower values of height and weight than those in their 20s. However, abdominal obesity indices (WHR and WHtR) showed higher values in the elderly than those of their 20s; in addition, they showed larger mean values as age increased. The chest and arm circumference tended to decrease in elderly males as age increased; however, elderly females tended to decrease in thigh and calf circumference size. There were gender differences in body changing due to aging. Obesity frequency was significantly higher in the elderly than in the 20s. The study represents basic data for product design for the elderly.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.692-700
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• 2017

The number of elderly citizens has risen in Korea and resulted in an aging society. Correspondingly, the social interest in the aging population has escalated immensely; however, research or product development on the quality of life for seniors has shortcomings. Healthcare smart clothing is required to help the elderly with changes and weaknesses that follow aging; however, there is unfortunately insufficient amounts available. This study explores the feasibilities of smart clothing for seniors based on a universal design. Based on previous research, we analyzed the universal design theory, body shape characteristics and design requirements for seniors, and heart rate measurement method. The design is different according to body shape and body shape is different between sex, age, and body race; therefore, subjects were limited to 70-74 year old Korean males in this study. This study proposes a guideline for heart rate sensing clothing that satisfies the 'universal design' aspects as well as the functionality of heart sensing, senior's physical characteristics and needs. It has broadened the range of smart clothing, which was once limited to the younger generation and provided a foundation for the development of specialized smart clothing for seniors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1542-1553
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• 2007

Recently, the growing of the aging population resulting from the medical and science development has made the elderly consumer as a new market. The purposes of this study were 1) to examine the purchase behavior of apparel products and hairdressing services of elderly consumers, 2) to investigate the purchase behavior in the apparel store and hairdressing shop on lifestyle types. Data were collected from 853 women in their 50s and 60s living in Busan. Data were analyzed by frequency analysis, descriptive analysis, factor analysis, Cronbach#s alpha, Chi-square analysis, cluster analysis, one-way ANOVA and Duncan test using SPSS WIN 12.0. The results of the study were as follows: First. when elderly consumers purchased apparel product, they were likely to use credit cards, to shop alone or with friends at a department store, and to use the store as information source. In their purchases of hairdressing services, they tended to visit the near shop for a permanent service bimonthly and to depend on their past experiences for hairdressing. Second, elderly consumers were classified by the lifestyle into the Active self-fidelitist, Economy family-oriented, and Passive-stagnant. The purchase behaviors in the apparel store and hairdressing shop were different among lifestyle types. Implications were suggested for the consumer behavior researchers and retailers of the elderly fashion market.