• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.620-629
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to assess dietary habits and seasonal variation and diversity of food intakes of elderly women living alone as compared to those of elderly women living with family in a rural area. Forty nine elderly women living alone and forty one elderly women living with family who reside in Goryeong-gun, Gyeongbuk, were interviewed using questionnaires in summer 2005, and their food intakes were assessed secondly in winter and thirdly in spring 2006. The average ages were 74.7 years for elderly living alone and 72.8 years for elderly living with family. Tooth status and bone fracture experience were similar between the groups. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disease was 61.2% and that of circulatory disease was 32.7% of the subjects. Average of total score of mental depression of the subjects was 5.94 out of 12 points, and it was not significantly different between the two groups. Skipping meals was more frequent and mealtime was more irregular in the elderly women living alone as compared with the elderly women living with family. Consumption of dietary supplements was also less in the elderly women living alone. Food intakes by the elderly women living alone tended to be lower than those by the elderly women living with family. Dietary diversity score was significantly lower with the elderly women living alone as compared with the elderly women living with family only in summer (p < 0.01). Percentages of the subjects who have taken meat group and vegetable group were significantly lower in the elderly living alone compared with the elderly living with family during summer. Therefore, it is necessary to develop food assistance or supporting program suited for the season within a community for elderly women living alone.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.27-39
• /
• 2007

Objectives: The challenge of an increasing elderly population has coupled with everpresent social concerns in Korea. A major problem in health center for the frail older people is that medical, healthcare, and welfare services are often fragmented in terms of providers and settings without appropriate coordination. The purpose of this study was to investigate the need of health center-based integrated healthcare services and its related factors for the elderly. Methods: A total of 110 elderly people who had visited at a county Health Center were interviewed using a self-administered questionnaire from November to December, 2005. The questionnaire consists of five domains according to the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. Results: Respondents had high need (total mean score with the 5-point Likert-type sacle: 3.67) of health center-based integrated healthcare services including home visiting service (mean: 4.08), chronic disease care service (mean: 4.06), and transportation service (mean 4.05). According to the results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis, among three regression models the magnititude of the variance of full model that is explained by the need of welfare-domain service was significantly larger than two reduced model. Income was a significant variable in increasing the need of health care and welfare services. Conclusions: This study suggests that the health center-based integrated healthcare services for the elderly must be continuously developed and provided for the health promotion and improved the quality of life of the elderly who live in rural area in Korea.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.303-311
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the health literacy level of, the hypertension knowledge of, the self-management behaviors of, and the factors influencing self-management behaviors of the hypertensive elderly population residing in the urban and rural areas. Methods: Data were collected from November to December 2017 by the trained research staff. For two months, a total of 160 subjects in urban and rural areas who had been taking antihypertensive medications consented to participate in the project. 157 participants completed the survey. Results: The health literacy score of the hypertensive elderly subjects was at 48.38±8.13, the hypertension knowledge score at 8.90±2.01 points, and the self-management behaviors score at 52.96±8.08. The factor that influenced the self-management behaviors of the hypertensive elderly subjects the most was the health literacy, followed by the residential area, and the hypertension knowledge. Conclusion: The research findings suggest that a health promotion program for the hypertensive elderly population should be designed in consideration of the health literacy, the area of residence and the hypertension knowledge of the elderly.

• Journal of Next-generation Convergence Information Services Technology
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.127-140
• /
• 2018

The research on the health promotion effect of the elderly through the health care service has been going on for a long time, but there is insufficient research to grasp the needs of elderly people in order to effectively provide health care services. In order to solve these problems, this study suggested the direction of health care service for elderly people by analyzing regional characteristics and demand among rural areas. To this end, the direction of improvement of customized healthcare service model was suggested through the analysis of the health - related program utilization status, health management method, health care service type, and contents demand of the elderly by urban area and rural area.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.59-71
• /
• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of posture balance and muscular strength before and after exercise by conducting a health gymnastics program for the elderly with chronic diseases of musculoskeletal system. Methods : The subjects of this study were 32 elderly people who had no experience participating in the musculoskeletal system linkage gymnastics program over 65 years old in a rural area in H city, Gyeonggi-do. The data were analyzed by computerized processing with SPSS 23.0. Results : The results of the study were as follows: First, the average of muscular strength before and after gymnastics according to general characteristics was significant in average according to age, presence of spouse, education level, and cohabitation type. Second, the subjects exercised for 2 days a week, and 25.59(±0.51) minutes on average. Third, the change of balance of the face (t=2.993, p=.011), shoulder (t=3.811, p=.002) and pelvic left and right (t=3.584, p=.004) was statistically significant in the posture balance. Fourth, muscular strength was statistically significant in motor function of AMS, SMS, and FMS (p<0.001). Conclusion : Therefore, after applying the health gymnastics program, the improvement of posture balance and muscular strength of the elderly became apparent, so it is necessary to disseminate this gymnastics program. The health gymnastics program is expected to positively improve the quality of life for the elderly.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.337-362
• /
• 2009

The purposes of this study are to review the community-based care programs for the elderly among NPOs, focused on the Regional Council on the Social Welfare and Elderly Club, in Japan and to examine the way these programs help the community elderly to live independently in their own home in the community. First, the community welfare policy for the aged and service delivery organizations in Japan are reviewed. Second, using the informations about the elderly support programs carried out by the Regional Council on the Social Welfare and Elderly Club, various kinds and processes of specific programs developed to meet the local characteristics are introduced. Applicability of these programs to rural Korea is discussed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.84-91
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This purpose of this study was to determine how effective a group therapy program on geriatric depression would be for elders who were living at home. Method: The study followed a quasi-experimental design and participants chosen for the study were elders living at home who had no problems with cognitive function, but excluding those elders who were diagnosed or under treatment for depression. The participants were divided into 2 groups, the experimental group of 16 and the control group of 17. Results: The Group therapy program had significant effects on decreasing depression in the elders. In the experimental group, the level of depression was significantly decreased after the group therapy (t＝-3.873, p=.002). Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that group therapy programs have a positive effect on geriatric depression in elders who live at home. Therefore, the authors expect further studies will be done based on the schematized group program to verify the results of this study for elders living at home in other parts of the country.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.23 no.4 s.76
• /
• pp.101-112
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to provide the design guidelines for the activity spaces in the skilled nursing facilities for the elderly through the investigation of the spatial characteristics and using behavior The researcher interviewed the staff regarding programs in 15 facilities, investigated and observed the use of the spaces from 15th of December, 2004 to 19th of February, 2005. The programs in facilities were categorized into human knowledge, arts, music, exercise, recreation, cooking gardening, religious and social activities, and those were peformed once to 4 times a day. They were conducted in the elderly individual rooms, lounges, program rooms, dining room, or(and) auditorium. The results of the study were as follows: First, investigating the activity spaces, the lounges and elderly individual rooms were mostly on the same floor so that the elderly had no big trouble in access to the lounge. The program rooms of the facilities in suburban and rural area were on the same floor as the elderly individual rooms and they were likely to combine with another usage, compared to those On city were mostly separated from the residence floor. Most of dining rooms and auditorium were on the basement or on the 1st floor. Second, in the programs by the activity spaces, elderly individual room and the program room were used more for the human knowledge and art programs with small group. The lounges were for recreation and social activities with (both of) small or(and) big group and dining rooms were mainly used for cooking programs. In auditorium, recreation, religious and social activity were performed with big group. Third, the individual rooms for the elderly had more capacity if those did not have any beds, but often had a trouble in making a passage way. The lounges needed to remove decorations and displayed furniture obstructing the passages and to arrange both of the western and eastern type of tables for the efficient use of the spaces. It took a long time in preparation of the furniture and other equipment if the program room was with another usage.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.157-165
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of recreation combined exercise program on body composition, physical fitness and depression in elderly women in rural district over a three-month follow-up period. Methods: Recreation combined exercise program (RCEP) was composed of resistance exercise, walking and recreation activity twice a week. The subjects were 52 divided in to experimental group (n=28) and control group (n=24). Arm curl, chair stand, 2 min step test, back scratch, chair sit and reach were measured as pre- or post-test data. Also, Depression was expressed using geriatric depression scale as pre- or post-test data. $X^2$ test, paired t-test and t-test were performed using SAS program. Results: Arm curl (p=.023), 2 minute step test (p<.001), back scratch (p=.004) and chair sit and reach (p=.024) showed the significant difference in the comparison between groups. Depression showed the significant difference in the comparison between groups (p=.008). Conclusion: These findings indicated the RCEP has positive influence upon increasing the physical fitness and improving the depression level. In conclusion, the regular RCEP will contribute to the improving physical and psychologic aspect in elderly women over the long period.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.277-289
• /
• 2019

Objectives: This study examined the practices of a community meal program for older adults in rural areas during the agricultural off-season. Methods: A survey was conducted from December 12 to December 22, 2016. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 150 cooking volunteers, who had participated in the community meal program in 50 villages. A total of 114 responses were returned from 44 villages and used for data analysis. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with the volunteers of eight villages. Results: Most of the cooking volunteers were 50 years old or older and they participated in serving older adults meals for good will. The cooking volunteers perceived that the older adults in their community did not eat various foods, had difficulties in grocery shopping, and frequently consumed salty foods. During the agricultural off-season, 40.9% of villages served the older adults meals 6-7 days a week and 95.5% provided meals for lunch. An average of 21 to 40 older adults were served meals in each village. The cooking volunteers reported that the food preparation and meal service times were sufficient, recipes provided were useful, and menus met the preference of the older adults. At the end of the program, they felt proud of serving meals for older adults in the community. An increased awareness of healthy eating, interest in health, and consumption of nutritious meals, a decrease in loneliness among older adults, and the promotion of fellowship in the community were rated highly. The cooking volunteers expected additional support for cooking personnel and insisted that the program should be provided for the entire agricultural off-seasons. Conclusions: The community meal program during the agricultural off-season for the elderly in rural areas was effective in improving the dietary life of older adults, relieving their feelings of isolation, and promoting fellowship of the community. The volunteers felt workload due to a shortage of volunteers but answered that they were rewarded by helping older adults in their community.