• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2000

The growing population of the elderly who have diverse health needs is receiving more attention from the health promotion field. This paper describes some of the findings of quantitative study into the health function of Korean immigrant elderly living in Washington State of Northwest America. One hundred-two community-dwelling Korean immigrant elderly, aged from 65 to 93 with a mean 77.97 years, were interviewed with a structured questionnaire to report their health function defined in three domains; perceived health status, physical functioning, and psychosocial functioning. The main results of the study were identified: (a) Overall, Korean immigrant elderly's perceived health status and physical functioning were good, but psychosocial functioning was poor; (b) Elderly with higher health functioning scores perceived better health status. Data indicates that health functioning measures are good indicators of the degree of perceived need for immigrant elderly. The paper argues that the understanding of physical and psychosocial functioning of elderly is vitally important in the provision of health care.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.15-30
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to examine how the rural elderly assess the multi-dimensions of health. This includes the physical, mental and social dimensions of health, correlations among them, and whether there are gender differences and age-group (60's, 70's, 80 and over) differences. For this purpose, survey data was gathered from 881 rural elderly who live in a village. The statistical methods used for data analysis were descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and correlations. The major findings of this study are as follows: Physical health was measured by self-rated health, ADL, IADL, and farmer symptoms. The respondents classified as 80 and over and female perceived their physical health more negatively. Mental health was perceived somewhat positively in general but female participants perceived their mental health more negatively than males. Social health of the rural elderly was relatively positive in comparison to the other dimensions of health. The rural elderly engaged in many social activities, and the majority of them had many social support networks composed of more than 12 persons. Relationships among the physical, mental and social health dimensions were different. The correlation of physical and mental health and the correlation of social and psychological health were statistically significant. However, the correlation of physical and social health had no significant meanings.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.460-469
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose was to investigate the physiological parameter and physical health status and health perception in the elderly, and to find the correlation between these variables. The subjects were 139 in Kyungi senior center. Method: The instruments for this study were physiological parameters, which were composed of vital capacity, blood pressure, pulse oxygenation, hand grip power, body fat and physical health status scale developed by researcher, and health perception scale developed by Ware(1976). The data were analyzed by the SPSS-PC 11.0 version. Results: 1) 7.9% of subjects were included in abnormal range of vital capacity, 40.3% were systolic hypertension and 11.5% were diastolic hypertension. And 92.1% were included in normal range of pulse oxygenation, 79.8% were weakened hand grip power, and 10.1% of subjects were included in normal range of body fat. 2) The total mean score of the physical health status was 26.34 of a possible maximum score of 45. The physical health status score of women was lower than man's. 3) The mean score of man's health perception was 24.52 and women's was 20.39 of a possible maximum score of 44. 4) There was a significant positive correlation between hand grip power and physical health status(r=.28, p=.001). And a significant correlation between physical health status and health perception was found (r=.24, p=.004). Conclusion: It is concluded that the blood pressure, hand grip power and body fat among the physiological parameters of elderly subjects in Kyungi senior center were included in abnormal range. The factors were related life style. therefore, it is suggested that the health education to change life style for the elderly is needed.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 1992

The major goal of caring the elderly is not to cure the patient, but rather to improve or maintain the individual functional ability. With the aged population increases, there is increasing consensus among health care workers about the importance of developing a tool to measure and evaluate the health status of the elderly. As many writers is pointing out, care of the elderly embraces the spectrum of physical-social-psychological problems and an enormous number of variables could be introudeced into the health worker's routine measurement. But such an expansive approach to measurement could have disadvantages. The purpose of this study is to introduce the measurement tools of physical functioning, perhaps the most important measure required in long-term care, which are separated into three categories of measures; general physical health, ADL, IADL. It is important that all health workers who provide care to the elderly incorporate the concepts of functional health status into the routine assessments. And continuous study about reliability and validity is needed to apply those foreign tools to Korea.

• 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 Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.337-348
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was to examine the factors (depression, level of health status, physical function, depression) influence health related quality of life (EQ5D) in community dwelling elderly according to sex. Methods: A total of 226 elderly subjects over the age of 65 years in community were included. Data were collected by measuring the physical function (muscle endurance, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular endurance) and by using a questionnaire about EQ5D, depression, health status. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0. Results: The major findings of this study are as follows. Explained variance of EQ5D by regular exercise, physical function, and level of health status was 19% for male elderly subjects and 26.0% for female elderly subjects. The effect was different according to sex. Depression has the effect on EQ5D (${\beta}=-.356$, p<.001) in females, while the level of health status has the effect (${\beta}=.314$, p=.027) in males. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the effect of regular exercise, physical function, and level of health status were different on EQ5D according to sex. Thus, different health programs according to sex are necessary to increase the quality of life in elderly individuals.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.47-56
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• 2017

Background: Given the potential benefits of wellness programs promoting physical activity of the community-dwelling frail elderly, it is recommended that comprehensive wellness programs combined with the component of physical activity. This may improve overall health and potentially lower the health care cost of the frail elderly. In general, the frail elderly residing in community or those after being discharged from hospitals are often committed to enhancing the status of participation in physical activity. Objects: The purposes of this study were to identify specific shortcomings of current wellness programs as part of continuum of community rehabilitation services and to propose alternatives for the care of the community-dwelling frail elderly. Through this study, geriatric health care professionals may be able to implement assessments and programs to successfully promote an effective continuum of care for the frail elderly. Methods: Article reviews were summarized and evaluated. Results: A model elaborating the relationship between components of successful wellness program and participation in physical activities for the community-dwelling frail elderly are recommended. First, periodic monitoring the levels of physical activity by the use of online measurement system should be considered. Second, individualized adaptive technologies for selecting optimal physical activities for the elderly may be better fit to individuals' current status of physical activity. Conclusion: The current status of physical activity in community-dwelling frail elderly can be monitored by online assessment systems. Through the innovative measurement system, elderly may assess his/her physical activity status overtime, select optimal physical activities matching the status, and create the elderly's own adaptive wellness programs that match to the status while residing in his/her community.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 1999

It is known that the role of informal support for elderly women is critical to their physical and mental health, adjustment in old age, and their overall life satisfaction. Elderly women's situation such as social losses, widowhood, living alone, and geographic relocation etc. may result in a need for more informal supports for elderly women's health than ever before. Particularly, women's same-sex friendships were rated higher for overall quality, intimacy, enjoyment, and nurturance. Unlike a generally accepted notion that later life for women is a time of isolation and loneliness, elderly women tend to maintain and reestablish their friendship regardless their marital status and living situation. Although studies on informal support for elderly women were inconclusive in many ways, elderly women's friendship tends to be stable despite of changing health status and life events. The relative importance between daughters and friends was also controversial. This study suggests that more research with reliable measurements is necessary for the practical prevention and intervention program of elderly women's health on this issue.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine a path model on the relationship among social capital, physical activity and subjective health status in the community indwelling elderly. Methods: The study was conducted utilizing the 2014 Seoul Survey, in the method of analyzing cross-sectional design and secondary data. Among 45,497 participants in total, the data of 4578 adults aged 65 or above was analyzed. Social capital was measured by social trust and social participation. Physical activity was measured by regular exercise. Additionally, a numerical rating scale was used to assess subjective health status. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients and path analysis. Results: Social participation and physical activity showed a direct effect on subjective health status in community indwelling elderly while social trust and physical activity showed an indirect effect on their subjective health status. The hypothetical path model of community indwelling elderly's subjective health status was proved correct. Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that health-promoting intervention for community indwelling elderly should consider social trust and participation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.478-489
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a Health Maintenance Program on physical functions and mental health of the elderly in nursing homes. Method: Sixty elderly(over 65 years old) in a randomized control study participated in a 16-week group-based intervention including functional exercises and health education. The participants were divided into 3 groups(Health Maintenance Program Group, Supportive Music Exercise Group, and Control Group) of 20 elderly each. Data was collected from Dec. 1st, 2005 to Mar, 30th, 2006. Physical function of lower body strength was assessed using a 30-second chair test, flexibility was assessed using a sit-and-reach test, and static balance was assessed by the ability to balance on one leg with open and closed eyes. Depression was assessed using the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and self esteem was assessed using Rosenberg's Self Esteem Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA, and Repeated measure two factor analysis. Results: A Health Maintenance Program significantly increased muscle strength, flexibility and static balance, but depression and self-esteem scores were not significantly changed. Conclusion: Findings demonstrated that a Health Maintenance Program was more effective on physical function than mental health of the elderly in nursing homes.