• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.173-181
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effects of physical fitness and aging anxiety on life satisfaction among the elderly. Methods: The participants were 119 elderly. Data collection was conducted from July 1 to 10, 2018. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression analysis with SPSS software. Results: The mean life satisfaction score was 4.10. Life satisfaction differed significantly according to several general characteristics: education level (p=.014), income (p<.001), living with partner (p=.041), perceived health status (p<.001), and number of chronic diseases (p<.001). Statistically significant positive relationships were observed between life satisfaction with muscle strength (r=.20) and, flexibility (r=.21), and a negative relationship was observed with aging anxiety (r=-.66). A total of 60.0% of life satisfaction was explained by income, perceived health status, muscle strength, flexibility, and aging anxiety. Conclusion: These results can be used to develop life sports programs to improve physical, social, and emotional health promotion with consideration for support to alleviate economic burden. Effect of life sports are evident as a way for healthy and energetic elderly. It should not be a simple exercise program but an integrated plan for improving physical, mental, and social health of the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.375-389
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to develop medical services for the elderly and qualitatively enhance physical therapy for them by analyzing korean students' knowledge of the elderly. METHODS: A total of 1027 male/female undergraduate students majoring in physical therapy were selected to examine the knowledge of the elderly. The knowledge of physical, psychological, and social aspects were investigated and measured by FAQ I of palmore (1988) and a scale developed by Yunjin et al. (1982). T-test, One-way-ANOVA and Scheff test were used. RESULTS: The percentage of the students who correctly answered the questions on the elderly was 53.6%. In particular, the higher error rates were seen in the social (56.9%) and psychological (57.6%) aspects compared in the physical (33.7%) aspects. Those who answered the questions correctly were over 30s (63.69%, p=0.000), seniors (57%, p=0.000)and grown in cities (53.91%, p=0.001). In addition, students who took lessons on the elderly (57.71%, p=0.032)and had experiences in voluntary services (54.09%, p=0.023) were significantly higher in answering the questions correctly. CONCLUSION: When students learned about the elderly, social and psychological aspects should be reinforced. The knowledge levels of the elderly can be elevated though voluntary services. It is thought that a follow-up study would be continuously neede to improve physical therapists' knowledge on the elderly and quality of available services.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.781-790
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a model of an elderly health promotion center after witnessing the effect of a social support program on dependent variables in older adults at a local community health center. Method: The subjects were 60 female adults over 65 years dwelling in a rural area, and they were divided into experimental and control groups each with 30 people. A social support program was implemented 6 hours a day, 3 times a week, for 4 months in the experimental group. Included was health assessment, health education, counseling, consultation, exercise, physical & occupational therapy, primary care, recreation, lunch & transfer service. Data was collected from May 1stto September 14th, 2002 by questionnaires, and analyzed by $x^2$-test, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression using SAS. Result: The social support program in the elderly was very effective on all dependent variables of physical health (t=4.68, p=.001), health knowledge (t=3.60, p=.001), life satisfaction (t=8.65, p=.001), and health promoting behaviors (t=5.23, p=.001). Conclusion: The Social Support Program at a Community Health Center was effective on health promoting behaviors in the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2012

Purpose: This study aimed to identify depression and its predictors among Korean community-dwelling elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: Secondary data analyses of the data collected by the "Study on tailored integration program for reinforcing cognitive and physical function of the frail elderly. The study used data from one-to-one interviews using structured questionnaires. The subjects were 346 community-dwelling elderly who visited a healthcare center in Seoul, Korea. A descriptive correlational study design was utilized to explore depression and its predictors including physical factors and psychosocial factors among the elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Data were analyzed using t-test, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical regression. Results: Mean score of depression was within normal limit $11.61{\pm}6.69$. Somatic symptoms, negative life events (severity), social support were shown as significant predictors of depression. The most influential predictor for depression was somatic symptoms (${\beta}$=.340, $p$ <.001). Conclusion: To prevent and relieve depression in the elderly with mild cognitive impairment, nursing intervention strategies which consider well-balanced physical and psychosocial aspects are needed. In particular, a specific nursing intervention strategy is required to improve physical health of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2021

Considering that the aged population increases and the mobility problem is pointed out as a factor that indisposes the quality of life, cognition, and mood, it is important to understand and evaluate the elderly's mobility. Factors that deteriorate mobility in the elderly include physical senility, various health changes including chronic diseases, polypharmacy as well as anticholinergics. Common mobility problems in old age are reduced gait speed, increased gait variability in walking length, careless walking, and frequent falls. Several studies have reported that decreased mobility and deterioration of gait can predict cognitive decline and emotional problems. Aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and balance exercise are suggested as therapeutic interventions for mobility problems. Active correction for factors that reduce mobility in the elderly and prescribing physical activity can conserve the elderly's quality of life and help improve cognition and mood. There is a need for related research in the future.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.146-154
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of household type on the health- and food-related behavior of the elderly. The survey was conducted on 304 free-living elderly persons in Chun-Chon city in 1999. The subjects were divided into three groups by their household types : living alone (n=35), living with their spouses (n=59), and living with their extended family (n=191). The results were obtained by personal interviews using questionnaires. Compared to the group living with their spouses and/or extended families, the elderly living alone were : less satisfied with the amount of monthly pocket money available; less involved in social activities; taking less vitamin supplements; doing less physical exercise; more frequently skipping meals and dining out; less frequently consuming meats, vegetables, fruits and seaweed; and having the highest rate of depression. The elderly living with their spouses tended to have the best physical functions and the greatest ability to carry out basic daily activities. The elderly living with their extended families had a higher incidence of diseases compared to the other groups. The preferred snacks were cookies for the elderly living alone, and fruits for the other two groups. In summary, it has been shown that household type should be taken into consideration for formulating adequate future strategies for effective health and nutrition programs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1117-1128
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• 1995

This study investigated whether social and psychological factors were related to nutritional status of the elderly. Food habits, social contacts and psychological the test score were collected from 86 institutionalized elderly women aged 65-96 in Chon-buk area. Social health status was measured by score of social contacts with others. Depression, self-esteem and locus of control were measured to evaluate psychological health status by using Zung DSI(Depression Status Intentory), Rosenberg SES(Self-esteem scale) and Rotter's vs external control, respectively. Social contacts of the total subjects were lowered, and in the group of over 85, contacts with relatives were significantly decreased compare to under 85 years of age groups. Psychological health status such as depression and self-esteem were also lowered, but locus of control showed internal control that indicates positive attitude to eating behavior. Most of the nutrients intake were positively correlated to self-esteem scores(p<0.05), but not to nutritional risk index score. Intake of vitamin C was related to social health status as well as psychological health status. Increasing the number of contact with relatives, intakes of carbohydrates, fiber, vit B1, vit C, Ca and P were elevated(p<0.05). As the score of self-esteem increased, intakes of fiber, Fe, vit B1, niacin, vit C, and vit A were increased. It is suggested that social activity and health education programs will be needed to improve the nutritional status of the institutionalized elderly.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2015

Objectives: Among the Korean elderly (those 65 years of age and older), the suicide rate is 80.3/100 000 people, which is ten times higher than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average. Because South Korea is rapidly becoming an aging population, this high elderly suicidal rate will only get worse. Although the size of the elderly suicide problem is quite large, previous research in South Korea has surveyed restricted areas and not the entire country. Even though the factors that affect elderly suicide are complicated, there has been little research into these influencing factors. Thus, this research uses the national survey data (Community Health Survey) that was obtained in 2009. Additionally, we analyze factors affecting elderly suicidal ideation and attempts as well as the paths of these effects. Methods: Community Health Survey data obtained by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2009 was used for this study. We additionally examined the factors that affect suicide with chi-squared tests, t-tests, Pearson's correlation test, and path analysis. Results: Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation are the only factors that directly affect suicidal attempts. Demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors have indirect effects on suicidal attempts. Conclusions: Depression has the strongest influence on suicidal ideation and attempts. Demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors affect suicidal attempts mostly through depressive symptoms. In addition, there is a path that suggests that demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors affect suicidal attempts not through depression symptoms but only through suicidal ideation. This means that the elderly who do not have depression symptoms attempt suicide according to their own situations and characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Rural Living Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.171-184
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• 1994

This study intends to provide basic informations on the rural elderly women's health status and health care practices which can be utilized for the welfare policies. Participants in this study are 133 elderly women over 60 who are lived in rural area. For the data analysis, Frequency, Correlation, Crosstabs, Oneway-Anova and LSD test are used. Physical health status is slightly lower than psychological health status and they are related to respondent's age, coresidence type, subjective economic status, subjective health status, participation in farming and health care type. Eighty-two percent of (he respondents perceived their health condition as poor and Neuralgia is the most frequent health problem. Women's health care practices are passive and somewhat restricted by age, educational status, coresidence type, necessary time to medical institution, and health status.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.351-361
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to explore whether there is a point within the range of physical impairment after which the cost of home care exceeds the cost of nursing home care among the elderly who require long-term care. The provision of long-term care for the elderly is a major health policy issue, in part due to the aging of the American population and dramatic increase in health care costs. The framework for this study was guided by Pollak's(1973)model of costs of alternative care settings for the elderly. This study used a retrospective, descriptive correlational design. Physical impairment was measured by the modified Index of Activities of Daily Living(Katz et al. 1963). Cost of care was measured by the average cost per patient per day. The sample for this study included 67 patients receiving long-term care at home from the Long-term Home Health Care Programs (LTHHCPs) and 67 patients receiving long-term care in nursing homes. Data were collected on patient characteristics. including activities of daily living and cognitive impairment. and on the number of physician visits. emergency room visits. and hospitalization from the patient records. For each patient. Medicaid cost data for home care services/or nursing home services were collected from the financial department of each home care agency or nursing home. The living costs and informal care costs were estimated for home care patients. The results indicated that the home care sample and the nursing home sample were similar in terms of gender. ethnic background. and marital status. The elderly patients in the home care sample were: however. younger and less physically impaired than those in the nursing home sample. The hypotheses of this study were supported: For elderly persons with physical impairment scores below 12(possible range of 0 to 14), cost of care was lower in home care than in the nursing home care setting. However, for elderly persons with physical impairment scores above 12. the cost of care was higher in home care than in the nursing home care setting. Thus. in this sample for elderly patients with extreme physical impairment, the cost of home care exceeded the cost of nursing home care.