• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.569-592
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• 2018

This study purported to investigate the current state of human rights of older adults residing in rural areas of Korea. The study utilized, as an analytic framework, 4 priority directions (1. "older persons and development", 2. "rural area development", 3. "advancing health and well-being into old age", and 4. "ensuring enabling and supportive environments") with 13 task actions recommended by Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). Furthermore, the study examined gender differences in all items included in the analytic framework. Data was collected by the face-to-face survey on 800 subjects aged 65 and over. Statistical analyses were conducted using STATA 13.0 program. The main results were summarized in order of 4 priority directions as follows. First, average working hours per day were 6.2, and men reportedly participated in economic activities and needed job training more than women, while women participated in lifelong education programs more than men. Awareness of fire and disaster prevention facilities was low in both genders. Second, accessibility to the support center for the elderly living alone as well as protective services for the vulnerable elderly was found to be low. IT-based services and networking were used more by men than women, and specifically, IT-based financial transactions and welfare services were least used. Third, medical check-ups and vaccinations were well received, while consistent treatments for chronic illnesses and long-term care services were relatively less given. In addition, accessibility to mental health service centers was considerably low. Fourth, although old house structures and the lack of convenience facilities were found to be circumstantial risk factors for these elders, experiences of receiving housing support services were scarce. The elderly were found to rely more on informal care, and concerns for their care were higher in women than men. Plus, accessibility to elderly abuse services was markedly low. Based on these results, discussed were implications for implementing policies and practical interventions to raise the levels of the human rights for this population.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.303-315
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• 2008

- Abstract - Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and identify its related factors among an urban elderly. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from 333 men and 514 women, aged 65-79 years who participated in '2007 community health survey' in Donggu, Gwangju metropolitan city. Their depressive symptoms were measured by Korean version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: The mean CES-D score (mean±S.D) for all subjects was 7.68±0.31. The mean CES-D score was significantly greater in the women (9.09±0.43) than in the men (5.51±0.39) (p<0.001). The prevalence rates of possible depression (CES-D score ≥16), probable depression (CES-D score≥21), and definite depression (CES-D score≥25) were 8.1%, 5.4%, and 3.9% in men, respectively. The prevalence rates of possible depression, probable depression, and definite depression were 19.5%, 11.1%, and 7.2% in women, respectively. Existence of spouse (no/yes), education level (no/high school or higher), health security system (medical aid/national health insurance), self-reported health status (poor/good), vascular risk factors (present/absent) proved to be statistically significant related factors of depression. Conclusions: This study suggests that a systematic effort and attention to support for elderly people living alone, low educational level, medical aid, poor self-reported health status and vascular risk factors should be promoted to reduce the incidence of depression.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2024

Due to the decrease in the school-age population and the overall population, school closures will continue to occur. Currently, most school closures are happening in rural areas, where geographical conditions often result in relatively poor educational, welfare, and cultural facilities compared to urban areas. Additionally, the proportion of elderly populations and migrant women is continuously increasing. In order to effectively utilize closed schools in the future, various efficient utilization methods that align with the social context of the respective regions will be necessary. The purpose of this study is to examine the status of closed school and utilization types in selected rural and island areas of similar sizes through field surveys and literature reviews. By comparing and analyzing these findings, we have identified the predominant utilization types in rural and island areas and assessed the current situation where utilization is lacking. Based on the results, we aim to provide fundamental data for improving and enhancing the utilization of school closures in the face of the ongoing decline in the school-age population.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of anemia and to define the risk factors for anemia in older Koreans in Asan. From January to February 2002, five hundred sixty two community-dwelling older adults aged over 60 years were selected from a cross sectional study. All subjects underwent laboratory tests, which included a complete blood cell count, reticulocyte, liver and renal functional tests, lipid profiles and iron status tests. The median age was 68.6 years (range, 60-92 years). The mean levels of hemoglobin were $14.4{\pm}1.3\;g/dL$ in men and $12.9{\pm}1.0\;g/dL$ in women, and the overall prevalence of anemia was 12.5% in all subjects, 10.8% in men and 13.6% in women. The prevalence of anemia was the lowest among age group of 60-69 (10.0%) followed by 70-79 (15.5%), and the highest among age over 80 (20.7%), but the difference was significant only for men. The age difference was more distinct in men than in women (p<0.05). The mean hemoglobin level was significantly lower in the subjects aged over 80 y than those in the 60-69 y group (p<0.05). According to a logistic regression analysis, lower albumin and higher creatinine levels were identified as independent risk factors of anemia among older adults in Asan. In conclusion, the overall prevalence of anemia in our study group was 12.5% and the highest (20.7%) among those aged over 80 y.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate health status and health promoting behaviors of female elderly, and their needs for health-related services in an urban-rural combined city. The data were collected from the subjects registered in senior welfare center and senior citizens' clubs. A total of 119 women were participated in the survey. The results of the study are as follows; 1. The subjects perceived their health status relatively unhealthy. Their health promotion behavior score was 10.82 (range 0-17), and more than $60\%$ of them performed well in smoking and drinking control, regular meal. taking breakfast, and maintaining good relationship with others. 2. The most needed service was health screening followed by health risk assessment, disease diagnosis and treatment. 3. The most demanded education was on dementia prevention, followed by exercise, balanced diet, and maintenance of memorial and mental capability. 4. As the health interest and the health responsibility increased, the need for health service increased as well. Likewise, the health education needs increased as the health interest, health responsibility, and health promotion behavior increased. The results show that the health promotion programs for female elderly need to be focused, primarily, on health screening, health risk assessment, medical services for disease diagnosis and treatment, and health consulting and education. And health consulting and education programs should be designed to promote health interest and health responsibility of female elderly, change positively their attitude to aging, and include education on dementia prevention, exercise and nutrition management. Recommendations are discussed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.470-478
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate dietary factors, bone status, and bone loss in postmenopausal women in rural areas. A total of 189 women participated in the follow-up study after two years. Radius, Tibia, and Phalanx SOS (Speed of Sound) was measured on two occasions 2 years apart by ultra-sonic-metry, and % body fat was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis at the baseline and after 2years. Dietary intake data were collected 4 times at different season by 24-hour recall method, and then calculated as average. Bone density of radius decreased by 4.2% during the two year period. When the subjects were divided into three groups, by bone decline level during two years, the lowest bone loss group had higher potassium and vegetable intake than other groups. Age and calcium intakes showed significant correlation with bone decline rate at tibia. In multiple regressions, the baseline SOS, vitamin A, vegetables and eggs intakes were found to be significant factors for tibia bone decline. In conclusion, dietary factors, such as higher vegetable intake, seem to affect the changes in bone mineral density in more favorable way. Therefore, efforts are needed to enhance the access to nutritional care for rural elderly postmenopausal women.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between socio-familial characteristics and health status in early stage of elderly life. In this study, a total of 252 Korean males and females aged 55 to 74 were interviewed to obtain information on various socio-familial characteristics such as age, gender, residence, marital status, education, religion, distance with children, household size, and living arrangements. They were also examined for self-perceived depression and diagnosed health problems. The analysis of the results show that marital status, gender, and living arrangement were major characteristics differentiating health status; widowed women living apart from their children are at lower level for most items of hea1th status such as emotional, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and muscle and skeletal function. Based on this analysis, suggestions are made for efficient health management. First, widowed females living without children are encouraged to participate in regular health promotion programs in self-organized groups. Second, usual welfare service programs need to be segregated for each age group, so that relatively young elderly are not frustrated from being treated together with extremely frail older elderly. Third, low education group living in rural area are offered preventive medical services for muscular and skeletal related health problems.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.511-531
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• 2014

This study explores supportive and conflictual network structures of elderly single and couple households and analyzes the effects of supportive and conflictual networks on suicidal thoughts by gender and family type. The analysis considered a sample of 522 individuals over the age of 60 who did not live with their adult children. The statistical methods used to analyze data were descriptive statistics, a t-test, a chi-square test and a regression analysis using SPSS WIN 20.0. The results are as follows. First, men and elderly single households had support networks that were smaller than those of women and elderly couple households. The conflictual network of elderly couples households was larger than that of elderly single households. In addition, the larger the network, the more the conflictual was. Second, elderly single households thought about suicide more often than elderly couple households. Third, economic status, the number of adult children, the size of conflictual network and subjective health had considerable influence on suicidal thoughts of elderly single and couple households. The size of the conflictual network had a greater effect on suicidal thoughts of elderly individuals than that of the supportive network. These results have important policy implications for elderly single and couple households.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.707-726
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• 2017

Korea is proceeding to aging society at much faster pace than other countries. To alleviate various problems (health, environment, social relationships, psychology and emotion, and financial problems) of the elderly caused by aging society, there has been increasing attention to social capital. This study investigated types of ways that the elderly at individual level are aware of social capital and the characteristic. In addition, factors that influence the types were studied. Data from 1060 elderly with the age of 65 and older were collected in Korea. Excluding missing data on variables used in the study, data of 960 elderly were used for analyses. K-mean cluster analysis was conducted to investigate types of elderly awareness on social capital at individual level. Multinominal logistic regression was used to find out factors of the types. K-mean cluster analysis resulted in three types of awareness on social capital among the elderly: (1) potential of social capital; (2) severance of social capital; and (3) wealth of social capital. Multinominal logistic regression resulted in that compared to potential of social capital type, when the elderly were younger, inclination of politics was more progressive, they did not have religion, they did not reside in rural, and they did not live in multiplex housing, the elderly were more likely to be in severance of social capital type. Also, when the elderly were women, had higher education and standard of living, were Christian, and did not reside in rural regions. they tended to be in wealth of social capital type. Based on the study results about awareness on social capital among the elderly and factors related to the awareness types, practical and political suggestions that promote social capital to solve problems of the elderly were provided.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.218-227
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• 2019

This study examined the effects of balance taping therapy on improving knee pain and the obstacles to daily activity in rural elderly women. The research design was a quasi-experimental research using a non-equivalent control group pre-test and post-test design. The data were collected from January 19th to April 14th, 2017. The research subjects included female elderly over 65 years old who visited 12 senior centers located at Y city in rural areas. The participants were composed of 26 people in the experimental group and 28 people in the control group. Data were collected before and 24 hours after balance taping therapy, and the pain and obstacles to daily activity were measured. The collected data were analyzed using the PASW Statistics 23 Program, which included a $X^2-test$, Shapiro-Wilk test, and Mann-Whitney U test. After the intervention, significant differences were observed in the knee pain (Z=-6.658, p<.001) and obstacles to daily activity (Z=-3.466, p=.001). With regard to lower domain variables of the obstacles to daily activity, significant differences in standing up (Z=-2.860, p=.004), daily activity (Z=-2.629, p=.009), walking (Z=-3.868, p<.001), and dressing up (Z=-2.049, p=.040) were observed between the two groups. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in grip (Z=-.542, p=.588) and arm stretching (Z=-.416, p=.678). In conclusion, applying balance taping to rural elderly women clearly decreases the level of knee pain, reduces the obstacles to daily activity, and improves their quality of life.