• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.32-43
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine factors that affect poor quality of life (QOL) of older adults who received home health service. Method: The sample 492 older adults participated in the study. The QOL was measured using the scale of QOL of Ware and other data were collected through face-to-face interviews from September to August, 2009. Results: The level of QOL was moderate (Mean 24.4, SD 7.4). The QOL was poorer in older adults (p<.05) and in those living alone (p<.01) compared to older adults and those living with couple or family respectively. The QOL was positively correlated with a sense of mastery (r=.213, p<.05), connection of health (r=.160, p<.05) and a cognitive function (r=.119, p<.01), and negatively correlated with Activities of Daily Living (r=-.266, p<.01) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (r=-.339, p<.01). Sense of mastery, connection of health & welfare, and IADL were significant predictors of QOL. Conclusion: Finding suggest that home health service program should incorporate strategies for increasing sense of mastery and capability of performing IADL, and strengthening connection of health service that may improve QOL of older home health service recipients.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.37-50
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing communication satisfaction between geriatric caregivers and older adults in urban-rural complex communities. The ultimate goal was to design local community educational programs and policies to enhance communication satisfaction among geriatric caregivers and improve the quality of care services for older adults. Methods: To identify factors influencing communication satisfaction between elderly caregivers and older adults, a survey titled "CCEP: Assessment of Communication Status between Elderly Care Service Providers and Recipients" was conducted from February to July 2020, focusing on rural-urban complex areas. The survey was administered based on providers of elderly healthcare services. The survey targeted 131 respondents involved in providing care services for older adults. The dependent variable of this study was the communication satisfaction reported by elderly caregivers in their interactions with the elderly. The independent variables included perceptions of older adults, factors associated with communication difficulties, and communication efforts. Additionally, gender, working environment, working experience, and the proportion of face-to-face interactions with older adults during caregiving were controlled for the hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: The analysis revealed that communication efforts with older adults significantly influenced communication satisfaction (β=.09, p<0.01). However, perceptions of the elderly and communication hindrance factors did not have a significant impact on communication satisfaction among geriatric caregivers. Conclusion: Effective communication between geriatric caregivers and older adults is crucial for identifying and meeting the needs and demands of caregiving services, and it plays a vital role in overall caregiving service satisfaction. To enhance communication skills and satisfaction among geriatric caregivers and ensure the appropriate fulfillment of elderly care needs in the local community, the development of community-centered, specialized health communication programs and other initiatives will be necessary in the future.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.781-800
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• 2020

This study aims to categorize the daily time use of older adults into different types, examine the factors influencing them and the differences between them by type, and verify the effect of each type on life satisfaction. From the 6th wave of the Korea Retirement and Income Study (KeRIS), analysis was conducted on 3,963 older adults aged 65 (n=3,963). Using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), three types of daily time use for older adults were identified: basic life maintenance type (16%), free-leisure oriented type (26%), and social activity type (58%). From the results of multinomial logistic regression analysis to identify the factors influencing each type of daily time use, it was found that the main factors influencing free-leisure oriented type, when compared with basic life maintenance type, were the presence of spouse (p<.01) and psychological health status (p<.001). The main factors influencing social activity type, when compared with basic life maintenance type, were age (p<.05), economic activity (p<.001), and chronic disease (p<.001). The life satisfaction seen during free-leisure oriented time and social activity time was higher than that during basic life maintenance time. From these findings, practical and policy proposals were suggested to improve life satisfaction of older adults during basic life maintenance time by pursuing changes in the use of that time.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.91-120
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• 2017

This study aimed (a) to examine the association between chronic illness and multidimensional disability(i.e., psychological/emotional functions, activity capacity, and participation frequency) among older adults with disabilities, (b) to investigate the effect of formal and informal supports on multidimensional disability, and (c) to analyze the moderating effects of formal and informal supports on the association between chronic illness and multidimensional disability. This study used 2014 Korea Welfare Panel Study(the 9th wave) data and 450 older adults with disabilities aged 50 and over were selected as the study target. The research model was analyzed by structural equation modeling using IBM AMOS 22.0. Based on the ICF framework developed by WHO, health condition was measured by the level of chronic illness; psychological/emotional functions were measured by health satisfaction, self-esteem, and depression; activity capacity was measured by ADLs and IADLs; participation frequency was measured by the total number of social activities joined; formal support was measured by the total number of formal welfare services for people with disabilities utilized; informal support was measured by perceived social support. The findings showed that the level of chronic illness was negatively associated with psychological/emotional functions among the older adults with disabilities. The informal support positively affected psychological/emotional functions and activity capacity, whereas the formal support showed the opposite result. That is, the formal support negatively influenced activity capacity and showed a moderating effect on the association between the level of chronic illness and the psychological/emotional functions in a reverse way. Based on the results, practice and policy implications for alleviating disability level among the older adults with disabilities were discussed.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.51-72
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of older adults living in the public welfare housing for the elderly and to examine what kind of this housing is as the housing alternative. Through the Robert Stake's intrinsic case study, it explored how older residents experienced this place, and how the relationships between residents, office workers, and community had been in the process, and what kind of issues were there. Various kinds of data, such as resident surveys, participant observations, interviews with 76 elderly residents and 4 office workers, and related newspaper articles, were analyzed using the thematic analysis method and methods suggested by Stake(1995). The results are presented as follows. First, it looked at who lived here and explored what was happening in this place where people of various backgrounds were gathered. Second, four types of life could be seen centering on the social relationship and daily life of older adults. Third, this study examined how the various ways of life were related to the main reasons for moving in here, and summarized how the residents perceived this place. The fourth and the fifth examined the relationships and dynamics among older residents, with office workers, and with the community, focusing on the two issues most commonly mentioned by residents. The results of this study show that, as a living organism, the interaction between the systems affects not only the culture of the housing, but also the lives of older adults. In particular, it can be seen how the perceptions of the practitioners are affecting the lives of the elderly. Based on the results of the study, further considerations were discussed.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.241-268
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• 2006

This study aim to examine the optimum population in Korea, which has the lowest fertility rate in the world. This study has significance because this rapid decline in the fertility rate is expected to bring the decrease of the population and unbalance in the population composition in Korea. From the social welfare perspective, the optimum population is guided by maximization of the social welfare level per person or the social welfare level in a society. The optimum population can be defined as follows: The proportion of older adults 65 and over is 15-17%, the proportion of work force is 64-69%, the index of aging is 72-104. Within the current population and population composition, the optimum population is estimated as 4.85-4.95 million. These findings imply that we need to remove causes of low fertility rate and prepare for policies encouraging immigration of labor force from foreign countries. In addition, policies and programs where children can be grown up in good environments and women and older adults can participate in labor force should be established.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.431-444
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to verify the effects of a memory and visual-motor integration program for older adults based on self-efficacy theory. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was implemented in this quasi-experimental study. The participants were 62 older adults from senior centers and older adult welfare facilities in D and G city (Experimental group=30, Control group=32). The experimental group took part in a 12-session memory and visual-motor integration program over 6 weeks. Data regarding memory self-efficacy, memory, visual-motor integration, and depression were collected from July to October of 2014 and analyzed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test using PASW Statistics (SPSS) 18.0 to determine the effects of the interventions. Results: Memory self-efficacy (t=2.20, p=.031), memory (Z=-2.92, p=.004), and visual-motor integration (Z=-2.49, p=.013) increased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. However, depression (Z=-0.90, p=.367) did not decrease significantly. Conclusion: This program is effective for increasing memory, visual-motor integration, and memory self-efficacy in older adults. Therefore, it can be used to improve cognition and prevent dementia in older adults.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2019

Objectives: To identify the factors affecting the cognitive function according to the education level of people aged 65 or older. Methods: This study used the data from the 2014 survey of living conditions and welfare needs of Korean older adults. A total of 10,248 people were analyzed in the final analysis, not including those who responded by proxy and those who did not participate in cognitive function tests. Cognitive function was measured by Mini Mental State Examination -Dementia Screening(MMSE-DS), and logistic regression was performed using the SPSS/WIN 24.0 program. Results: There were differences in factors affecting cognitive function depending on the education level. Overall, regular exercise had a positive effect on maintaining cognitive function, and the higher the education level, the more important it was to maintain the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(IADL). In addition, for lower education levels, improving the life satisfaction was important to prevent the decline of cognitive function. Conclusions: Based on the results of this research, it is suggested that customized approaches shoud be taken according to education level when developing and implementing programs to prevent the decline of cognitive function.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.451-463
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examined the reciprocal relationships between depression and income, and gender differences in these relationships among older adults in South Korea. Methods: Using 2015 to 2019 of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS), we studied 6,070 older adults (2,394 men and 3,676 women) aged 60 years over in 2015. The generalized estimating equation was employed to explore the effect of an individual income on depression and the reverse causal link-that of depression on income. Results: The study found the reciprocal relationships between income and depression. Income has a significant impact on depression. Higher-income was linked to decreased risks of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scores among older adults (B = - 0.121, p < 0.001). Estimates of the reverse causal link show that higher CES-D scores were also linked to income reduction among Korean older adults (B = - 0.007, p < 0.001). In addition, we also observed gender differences in the impact of income on depression but not in the reverse causal link. Income has more detrimental to psychological consequence for older men (B = - 0.108, p < 0.001) than older women (B = - 0.057, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The finding implies that both psychological and social protection policies for the elderly are needed in view of gender perspective.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.669-686
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate types of neighborhood environments and to verify whether the types of neighborhood environments are directly related to life satisfaction of older adults. To achieve this goal, I used'2014 National Survey on Older Koreans' data which surveyed the older adults aged 65 and over living in the community and a total of 10,281 respondents were analyzed. To determine the types of neighborhood environment, the time taken by walking from community organizations or places such as grocery stores, medical centers, administrative agencies, welfare centers, public transportation was used as an neighborhood environment indicators. As a results, there were six types of neighborhood environment: a leisure-welfare walk-limited type(20.3%), a leisure-welfare long-distance type(15.5%), a balanced proximity type(7.8%), a store-traffic type(35.8%), a traffic proximity type(10.1%), and a marginalized area type(11.3%). Compared to the balanced proximity type, older adults living in a store-traffic type and a marginalized area type were more likely to have negative life satisfaction. older adults who have higher life satisfaction were more likely to be female, more educated, get higher household income, and have a spouses or partner. Moreover, the better the health conditions, the higher the frequency of contact with children, siblings, friends and neighbors, the higher the satisfaction of life. Finding from the study highlight the importance of neighborhood environment in late life and provide implications for building age-friendly community.