• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.7-14
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• 2011

This paper is intended to suggest some reference materials for future elderly housing design, especially smart home, in Korea, by reviewing the elements and applications of smart home concept for older adults in USA. Research method includes collecting materials by attending the regular SmartHome$^{(R)}$ part meeting, the navigation of related homepages, and the analysis of collected materials. Current researches in Korea look initial stage and show some general principles without practical concept & technologies of elderly facilities. SeniorSmart$^{(R)}$ Center in USA started on August 2007 with the 3 parts of SmartHOME$^{(R)}$, SmartWHEELS$^{(R)}$ and SmartBRAIN$^{(R)}$. The Center has been doing various multidisciplinary research projects but slowing down the planned processes due to national economic recession. The major researches of SmartHome$^{(R)}$ part can be summarized as follows; CS-PFP( Continuous Scale Physical Function Performance) laboratory is being in operation to help older adults and families make the difficult decision regarding the ability and safety to live independently. Three levels of necessary laboratories from uninhabited space to senior living environment were accommodated for field research. As core technologies of SmartHome$^{(R)}$, predicting & warning system of fall risk on recognizing gait signature patterns to identify any deviation from the normal patterns of the older adults, home monitoring system which will send alerts to a specified relative and/or health care professional when vital signs of the older adults will not be within normal parameters, and Mobility & Research Clinic for evaluating, treating the older adults & multidisciplinary research are under development. SmartHome$^{(R)}$ has made collaborative research agreements for field laboratory with various retirement communities and also is continuing to work for experimental software engineering with the Fraunhofer Institute, Germany.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.126-138
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of assistive products usage on activity of daily living for the beneficiary older adults people in Korean long-term care insurance system. The study subjects were divided to assistive products users and non-users among the beneficiary older adults based on Korean long-term care insurance system to compare function improvement of the activity of daily living. Methods : In national wide 12 community elderly care center enrolled the National Health Insurance Corporation, The numbers of 281 beneficiary older adults(long-term care Grade I: 66, Grade II: 58, Grade III: 157) participated in this study. This survey assessment tool for activity of daily living was used the long-term care assessment instrument of the physical functions in the law of Korean long-term care insurance. The function items of Activity of daily living were included in clothing, washing, tooth brushing, bathing, eating, posture converting, stand sitting, move sitting, out of room, using toilet, controlling of stool, controlling of urine, washing hair. According to independence to complete dependence functioning level, remarks pointed 1 to 3 points. The data were analyzed by chi-square, two-way anova using SPSS V. 12.0. Results : The results appeared that the mean score of the functions in activity of daily living of assistive products users was a 27.60, and that of non-users was a 30.66. Assistive products were not effected in Grade I and II recipients, but that effected in Grade III recipients. Conclusion : Preparing for activation of assistive products based Korean long-term care insurance system, the result application as follows is possible. The usage of assistive products could improve the function of daily living activity in older adults. Related to Grade III beneficiary elderly people were improved function in activity of daily living by using assistive products, it is necessary to extend coverage the non-eligible elderly people in Korean long-term care insurance system.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.491-496
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of leisure satisfaction on cognitive function and to examine mediating effect of social network in the relationship between leisure satisfaction and cognitive function of older adults. For this, this study utilized 2023 Social Survey data and 9,526 older adults aged over 65 years were analyzed. Study results showed that first, leisure satisfaction had positive effects on cognitive function of older adults. Second, social network had positive effects on cognitive function of older adults. Third, leisure satisfaction of the elderly had effects on cognitive function mediated by social network. That is, older adults with higher level of leisure satisfaction had more number of social network leading to a higher level of cognitive function. Results of this study show that leisure activities can be considered in maintaining and improving cognitive function of older adults and there is a need to promote types of leisure activities which extend social network.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.605-610
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• 2010

In order to design a touch interface for the elderly, human performance of input tasks on the touch screen was investigated by the laboratory experiment. Input times and input errors were measured in the experimental conditions that were changed according to age, key size, interkey space and input tool(finger or stylus pen). In the most of all experimental conditions, the task performance of the elderly was lower than that of the young. However, there were significantly different performance patterns between both groups. As the difficulty of task was getting higher, the task performance of the elderly was sharply decreased; pressing small key button by finger sharply increased input time and error rate, compared to that of the young. Therefore, the square key size suitable to the elderly may be over $8.0{\times}8.0mm$. While the interkey space did not influence to the input task performance of the young, the task performance of the elderly was influenced. The elderly showed big difference of task performance according to input tool. However, the young were less influenced by input tool.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.55-64
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of air stacking exercise on lung capacity, activities of daily living, and walking ability in elderly adults. METHODS: A total of 27 subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG=13) or a control group (CG=14). Subjects in the experimental group participated in an active pulmonary rehabilitation program. 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The active pulmonary rehabilitation program was composed of an air stacking exercise with an oral nasal mask and manually assisted coughing. Conventional pulmonary rehabilitation exercises, such as, cough exercise, deep breathing, and abdominal muscle strengthening exercises were performed by both groups. Pulmonary function parameters, peak cough flow (PCF), and oxygen saturation were measured and the 6-minute walk test and Korean version of the modified Barthel index (K-MBI) scores were applied. RESULTS: Significant intergroup differences were observed for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) results after intervention (p<.05), and for 6 minute walk test and PCF results after intervention and at 2-week follow-up visits (p<.05). Post hoc test results showed significant differences in K-MBI, 6-minute walk test, and FEV1 in the experimental group after intervention (p<.05). FVC values were significantly higher after intervention and at 2-week follow-up visits versus pre-intervention (p<.05). PCF values were also significantly higher after intervention and remained significantly higher at 2-week follow-up visits (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Air stacking exercise in elderly adults improves lung capacity and exercise tolerance.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2004

Insufficient dietary intake of vitamin A is one of the major nutritional problems for elderly adults in some parts of Korea. The objective of this study was to determine the vitamin A nutritional status of elderly adults in Asan, Korea by assessing the dietary intake and serum retinol concentration. Five hundred twenty four subjects (218 male and 306 female) over 65 years were recruited from city of Asan. Each subject was interviewed to assess the intake of vitamin A using a 24hr recall method and data were analysed from computer-aided nutrient analysis program. Blood samples after 12hr fasting were collected for serum retinol concentration and reverse phased HPLC with UV detector used. The results showed that subjects did not consume the sufficient amount of energy (82-85% of Korean RDA for male and 77-79% RDA for female) and vitamin A (59% RDA for male and 50% RDA for female). Range for retinol intake was 0 to $4342\;{\mu}g$ a day while that of beta-carotene was 65 to $31595\;{\mu}g$. Serum retinol concentrations were within a normal range for both male ($80\;{\mu}g/dl$) and female ($67\;{\mu}g/dl$) subjects. Many subjects (n=342) consumed less than 50% RDA of vitamin A. However, if retinol intake was high (> $37\;{\mu}g$), even with less than 50% RDA of vitamin A intake, serum retinol concentration was high ($75\;{\mu}g/dl$). Subjects showed normal serum retinol status even with low vitamin A intake. The results suggested that optimal intake ratio of dietary retinol and carotenoid is important to maintain an appropriate serum retinol concentration.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.455-485
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• 2016

The purpose of this research is to investigate adult's perception of elderly parents care and differences of related variables between family structures. There were 1,258 participants(age 45; male=601, female=657; 1,111=nuclear, 147=extended). The measures yielded Cronbach α=.67~.95, inter-judger reliability= 95.1%, Kappa=.95. The results showed that, first, there were no significant differences between two family structures in terms of SES excepting academic career. Second, there were significant differences between two family structures in family relation, psychological characteristics. That is, adults in the extended family, versus those in the nuclear family, provide greater emotional support to children, sacrificed more towards children, and have greater expectations for children supporting them when they retire. Also, adults in the extended family displayed greater self-efficacy and happiness. Third, there were significant differences between two family structures in caring for elderly parents. Adults in the extended family apportioned a greater parent's allowance, and more number of meals with parents, and spent more time talking with parents, and displayed greater degree of filial piety and more caring behavior towards parents. Fourth, as for the perception of caring for elderly parents according to family structure, when adults were asked about "the best way to care for parents", the most frequent response was providing a peace-of-mind for parents. As for "the most difficult aspect of caring for parents", differences in opinions followed by financial difficulty were the most. As for "the best aspects of caring for parents", the most frequent responses were good for children's upbringing and family harmony. Based on the results, suggestions for further research have been discussed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2015

Objective: Balance is a preceding task for functional activities in daily activities as well as community-dwelling activities. To learn skilled and functional activities, it is also necessary to imagine an appropriate and effective movement representation used to plan and execute the functional activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of balance imagery of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor and balance beam on balance abilities for elderly and young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifteen elderly and thirty-four young adults were enrolled in this study. In order to determine whether there is a change in postural control ability according to the different imagery training methods used, standing static balance measurements were performed. According to the therapist's instructions, participants were to stand in a semi-tandem position on the Good Balance System for 1 minute while imagining that they were standing on a balance beam, and while the postural control abilities was assessed. Results: Postural control was significantly different in balance ability of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor compared to on a balance beam in both geriatrics and young adults. Postural sway was more significantly decreased in young adults than older adults during balance imagery of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor as well as on balance beam (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the ability to mentally represent their actions was similar in older adults compared to young adults, although older adults showed a drop in efficiency of postural control more than young adults.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2014

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate factors influencing suicidal ideation among Korean adults. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey conducted in 2012 were analyzed in this study. The subjects were categorized into three groups by subjects' age(defined as young adults(20-39), middle-aged adults(40-59), and the elderly(60 or more). Data were analyzed by frequency, Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression using SPSS 18.0. Results: The factors influencing suicidal ideation were different among three age groups. The influencing factors were (1) gender, marital status, household income, perceived stress and depression in the young adult group, (2) household income, perceived health status, perceived stress and depression in the middle-aged group, (3) gender, regular physical activity, smoking, perceived health status, perceived stress and depression in the elderly group. Conclusions: The health education considering the characteristics of each age group should be developed and applied to prevent adults' suicidal ideation because the factors influencing suicidal ideation were revealed differently between the age groups.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2024

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18-64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion: Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.