• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.921-932
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of the this study was to obtain necessary source data for development of oral health improvement and promotion programs for the elderly by investigating the actual situations of oral health education related experience and needs that senior citizens had in Korea. Methods : In this study, convenience sampling was conducted in 430 senior citizens aged 65 years who lived in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do in Korea, for about six months from December 2011 to May 2012. For data collection, the structured questionnaire was used. Community-based senior citizens' welfare facilities and centres, as well as nearby churches were visited to inform them of the information on this study. Then, the senior citizens who agreed to participate in this study were given the questionnaire sheets. Excluding 33 copies of inadequately completed questionnaire sheets, 397 copies (92.3% of the entire collected data) were analyzed. Results : 1. In terms of the experience with oral health education, the number of elderly respondents who have not received oral health education was 202 (50.9%), whereas the number of those who have received oral health education was 195 (49.1%), which indicates that the latter shows a slightly higher proportion. 2. Examining the necessity for oral health education, the overall mean was 3.67 points based on 5 points as full marks, which suggests that senior citizens have high awareness of the necessity for oral health education. 3. Regarding the willingness to participate in oral health education, the number of those who answered that if any opportunity to receive oral health education is given, they would be willing to receive such the education was 211 (53.1%). Conclusions : Based upon the results mentioned above, we conclude that it is required to develop more systematic and sustained, life-long oral health education programs at the levels of senior citizen's welfare facilities and centres, in order to guide senior citizens to desirable oral health care practice.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.19-30
• /
• 2005

As the population of the elderly increases drastically year by year in Korea, the more welfare centers for them are greatly needed. There are, however, a small number of public geriatric hospitals currently available. And a limited number of private-founded geriatric centers are under construction throughout the country. And the systematic standards for the spacial composition and departmental area distribution for them are not satisfactorily set up yet. The analytical study of the space composition and area distribution of the hospitals in question shows that publicly-shared spaces, such as day-room and lobby, are much more useful for their communications than private spaces, such as shut-in living rooms. It also shows that in-yards or in-gardens which are located in the center of the wards are very helpful for their comfortable long-term hospitalization. The shared spaces are recommended to be in sight of and within earshot of their caretakers. In relation with out-patient departments, the programs for the local elderly residents, such as the day-care center and recreation facilities are recommended to be prepared for their physical care and emotional treatment at a time by municipal welfare centers rather than by private institutions. The analytic study carried out in terms of departmental area distributions reveals that the areas for the wards are generally wider and areas for out-patient/or diagnosis departments are relatively narrower than those in the general hospitals. These area distributions seem to have come from the considerations of their relatively long-term staying in the centers than general hospitals and their mental stability as well.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.73-99
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out by using questionnaires with 126 insurance societies from Sept. 30, 1995 to Oct. 18, 1995. The primary data collected bythe survey have been significantly supplemented by secondary data obtained from sources such as health insurance statistical year books and internal data in the Ministry of Health and Wolfare. Major findings were summarized as follows: Two financial coordinating programs have significantly improved financial status of regional health insurance societies: the catastrophic program for high cost medical care that was initiated in 1991 and the program for hospitalization cost of the aged in 1995. Another finding is that there existed ambiguity and inconsistency of equity index that had been used by stabilization programs and its side effects could not be ignored. Regression analyses were made to identify factors that affect financial transfers. Inde pendent variables in the regression include utilization frequency, dependancy ration, insurance contribution per insured and medical expense per insured. All these variables were statistically significant in the equations of applying distribution rate (distribution/contribution) and transfer rate (transfer/contribution) as dependent variables. Policy suggestions for the catastrophic program for high cost medical care are modifying the definition of catastrophic case and setting the maximum amount of subsidies for each society based on distribution rates. To solve the problems of the financial coordinating program for the aged, we could consider reimbursing more than 50% of the copayment incurred by the aged 65 or more and determining the maximum amount of outpatient copayment at 10,000 Won per day or per visit for the elderly. More fundamental improvement could be made by amending the Welfare Benefit Act to establish and expand medical and welfare facilities for the elderly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2007

This study was designed to examine, applying Rasch analysis based on item response theory, the questionnaires of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale for the elderly. The subjects were 99 institutional older adults and clients of social welfare facilities. The subjects (17 men, 72 women) ranged in age from 65 to 94 years (mean age 76.5 yrs). The Winsteps software was used to assess whether the ABC scale fits the Rasch model, to estimate the score and to refine the rating scale. The results are as follows. Twenty-two subjects were excluded as misfit persons. Four items were found to be misfits and the order of difficulty of the remaining 12 items was rearranged. Their balance confidence is indicated by -.64~1.12 logit, and the transformation formula is score=[(logit score+2.76)/(2.76+3.48)]${\times}$100. The most difficult item was "Walk outside in icy sidewalks" and the easiest item was "Walk around house." In conclusion, the ABC scale for the elderly has been proven reliable and valid. Therefore, it is expected to be used as an effective examination tool for treatment planning and screening for older adults.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.24 no.4 s.82
• /
• pp.127-139
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this research was to find out relation between the attitudes toward work and leisure in later life and intention to move to senior community available to work among 50's in Seoul, Incheon, and Kyunggido. The same research questions would be revealed as the previous one done by Cho & Cho(2006). The data were the part of the survey collected from 556 respondents with questionnaire during November, 2002 by the Hong's research team(2004). The results of this study showed that most respondents were somewhat actively preparing toward work in later life and the level of preparation differed by the individual characteristics such as age, health and occupation. They preferred various work items specially managing facility center, raising animals and plants, and managing educating center, which were different from what current elderly workers were mainly involved in. Similarly to the work, most respondents cared for the kind of leisure activities to continue and saved money for the leisure expenses in later life. The better the economic conditions, the more actively prepared for leisure in later life. They were strongly expected to participate in public leisure facilities and programs for the elderly as a user, volunteer, and/or activist. Over two thirds of the respondents preferred to work and live together in later life and over two out of five had intention to move to the senior community available to work. The more active in work and/or leisure in later life, the higher intention to work together and/or to move to the community. Those results generally supported the previous research showed that the needs of work and leisure in later life would be increased and varied, therefor housing for the elderly should considered work space and program as well as leisure. The further study was suggested to focus on the potential and current residents in the sample case of the comprehensive welfare town for the elderly by local administration.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Considering the proportion of the population such as the elderly, pregnant women, infants companion and constantly increasing foreign tourists, there is a high need for implementing an environment without barriers. In terms of policy and institutional aspects, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province is striving to create an environment without barriers and to promote the safety and convenience of Vulnerable Pedestrians. But it is not enough to create a viable barrier-free environment. Methods: Method of this research is to analyze the general population status and installed facilities status for the disabled in Jeju. And analysis of policy research needs and level of barrier-free. By applying the barrier-free environment certification standards should conduct an assessment of the level of the current public office buildings in Jeju. It presents the environmental improvement of public office buildings for barrier-free environment. Result: Barrier-free environment status of the five public office buildings research surveyed all buildings have shown low levels of installed facilities for the disabled. In particular, it was analyzed that represents a very low level in the intermediate facilities and other facilities. The development of a specific installation manual for the facilities for the disabled is required to improve public office buildings. And barrier-free criteria need to reflect on the implementation of regulations. Implications: Through continuous research to analyze the barrier-free level and problems of public office buildings, it will be made to improve the comprehensive and reasonable alternative.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the BeHaS exercise program, developed by Jong Im Kim (2006), consisting of exercise, education and cognitive support on muscle strength and flexibility in elders who live in elderly facilities. Method: This study was designed using one group pretest-posttest experimental design, 19 elders, the subjects of the group participated in the BeHaS exercise program. The BeHaS exercise program was provided for 60-80 minutes per session once a week for 8 weeks. Data was collected by research assistants using structured interview and measurement tool, from January, 2011 to March, 2011. Data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 17.0, general characteristics were analyzed with real number and percentage, muscle strength and flexibility were analyzed with Mean and SDs. Results: There were significant increase pre and post test for the left shoulder flexibility (p=.000) and waist flexibility (p=.030). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study confirms that BeHaS exercise program played a useful role in partial improving flexibility in the Institutionalized Elders.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.34-43
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to suggest new direction for domiciliary care for elders provided by public institutions in rural areas. Method: The participants in the study were elders using one of 11 public health care institutions, of which 8 operated day care services exclusively, and 3 operated both day care and short-term respite care services. A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire that included items on general characteristics of the service users, conditions of the services, personnel, financial status, facilities, and perception of the tasks of the staff. Result: The service content of the day care centers included Western and Chinese medical service, physical services, activities of ADL, nursing care services, meal services and transportation services. Domiciliary care centers provided a wide variety of health and social welfare service for elders. Personnel consisted of 3 to 8 staff for day care centers and 7 to 10 for domiciliary care centers. Both types of centers rely on financial support from local government for operation. The perception of the staff was the need for operation of these centers by public health facilities such as public health centers and sub-centers. Conclusion: The result suggest a need to activate the function of public institutions to provide domiciliary care for elders. For this new change, the role as a social support system must be developed.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.195-220
• /
• 2010

This study is to examine the job satisfaction of the social workers who manage the elderly care service in country, in order to find political alternatives and practical strategies for improving job satisfaction. The Factors to effect on job satisfaction are categorized as three groups ; personal factors, working environment factors and service related factors. The survey was conducted by 231 social workers who participated in a national seminar among 244 elderly care facilities in country, and 220 effective data were collected. Which factors effected on the job satisfaction of social workers and how much effected on it by them were mainly analyzed. The mean of job satisfaction status was 3.01, which was slightly higher than average(2.5). Men had higher job satisfaction than women. The unmarried than the married, permanent workers than contract workers, and workers who didn't execute other jobs had higher job satisfaction also. And The main factors which effected on job satisfaction were sex among personal factors, the manager willingness and not executing other jobs among working environment factors, and service attitude among service related factors. Particularly, the manager willingness was shown to effect on job satisfaction the most, and then service attitude, not executing other jobs and sex effected on it in order. The result showed that the elderly care facilities which had stronger manager willingness and better service attitude provided higher job satisfaction, and men who didn't execute other jobs than women had higher job satisfaction. The job satisfactions of payment and benefits, employment stability, appropriateness of working amount and working time, working environment and welfare conditions were lower than average. Therefore, the strategies to improve the lower job conditions are promptly required. Above all, the low payment strategy that has not been increased at all for 3 years has to be changed. In addition, it is important for the social workers not to execute other jobs as much as possible in order to reduce working amount and working time appropriately. In conclusion, it is required to try to improve the job satisfaction of the social workers who are the core of human service continually, which will make the elderly care service successful and effectiveness improved.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.829-839
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of music therapy and rhythmic exercise on health related quality of life, blood pressure and upper extremity muscle strength in the institution-dwelling elderly women. Methods: The study was designed using a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants consisted of 35 elders (18 in the experimental group and 17 in the control group). The music therapy and rhythmic exercise were developed by the investigators. The experimental group took part in this program twice a week for 8 weeks. The Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire, blood pressure and grasp power scale were used as instruments. The data were analyzed using SPSS 14.0. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that music therapy and rhythmic exercise had positive effects on quality of life, especially on vitality, general health and mental health. Also, there were statistically significant differences in diastolic blood pressure and upper extremity muscle strength between the pretest and posttest in the experimental group. Conclusion: The study suggests that this program can be applied for older women in long-term facilities to improve quality of life, blood pressure and upper extremity muscle strength.