• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2007

Objectives : According to Rowe and Kahn (1998), successful aging is the combination of a low probability of disease, high functioning, and active engagement with life. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between active engagement with life and functioning among the community-dwelling elderly. Methods : Data were collected from Wave 2 of the Suwon Longitudinal Aging Study (SLAS), consisting of a sample of 645 persons aged 65 and older living in the community. A social activity checklist and social support inventory were used as measures of engagement with life, along with the Physical Functioning (PF) scale as a measure of functioning. The effects of social support and social activity on physical functioning, taking into account the covariates, were analyzed by hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results : Maintenance of social activity and social support were significantly associated with higher physical function, after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Social support appeared to be more prominent than social activity in predicting physical functioning. Conclusions : Social support and social activity are potentially modifiable factors associated with physical function in older persons. Studies examining the role social engagement may play in preventing disability are warranted.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.31-42
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• 2015

Objective : The aim of this study is to prove the effects of mental practice in balance ability of elderly population, and to investigate the possibility of application as an effective intervention method for fall prevention. Methods : This study provided mental practice to 3 subjects over 65 years old who have experienced fall, but do not have cognitive dysfunctions and independent in gait without any use of assistive devices from July to October, 2013. Within the individual case study, 4 sessions of initial baseline process (A), 5 sessions of mental practice (B), 4 sessions of re-initial baseline process (A') were proceeded using ABA design. Independent variable used mental practice for enhancing balance ability and fall efficacy in elderly population, and dependent variable were Berg Balance Scale (BBS) to find out the change in overall balance ability, Fall Efficacy Scale (FES) to see the change in fall efficacy, One-Leg Standing test(OLS), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) to determine the changes in both static and dynamic balance. Analysis of the results were provided via mean value and graph. Results : After the application of mental practice method, all of the subjects have shown increase in fall efficacy baseline values, and in addition, overall balance ability and both static and dynamic balances either increased or maintained. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that mental practice has positive effects on fall efficacy improvement and maintenance in elderly, thereby suggesting mental practice for fall prevention in elderly populations.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.260-274
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• 2016

Objectives: Previous epidemiological studies about oxidative stress and depression are limited by hospital-based case-control design, single-time measurements of oxidative stress biomarkers, and the small number of study participants. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the association between biomarker of oxidative stress and depressive symptom scores using repeatedly measured panel data from a community-dwelling elderly population. Methods: From 2008 to 2010, a total of 478 elderly participants residing in Seoul, Korea, were evaluated three times. Participants underwent the Korean version of the Short Form Generic Depression Scale (SGDS-K) test for screening depression, and urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured as an oxidative stress biomarker. We used a generalized estimating equation with a compound symmetry covariance structure to estimate the effects of oxidative stress on depressive symptom scores. Results: A two-fold increase in urinary MDA concentration was significantly associated with a 33.88% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.59% to 47.42%) increase in total SGDS-K scores. In subgroup analyses by gender, a two-fold increase in urinary MDA concentration was significantly associated with increased SGDS-K scores in both men and women (men: 30.88%; 95% CI, 10.24% to 55.37%; women: 34.77%; 95% CI, 20.09% to 51.25%). In bivariate analysis after an SGDS-K score ${\geq}8$ was defined as depression, the third and the fourth urinary MDA quartiles showed a significantly increased odds ratio(OR) of depression compared to the lowest urinary MDA quartile (third quartile OR, 6.51; 95% CI, 1.77 to 24.00; fourth quartile OR, 7.11; 95% CI, 1.99 to 25.42). Conclusions: Our study suggests a significant association between oxidative stress and depressive symptoms in the elderly population.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.16-26
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• 2016

Background: Deficiencies in the ability to maintain balance are common in elderly. Augmented feedback such as knowledge of results (KR) can accelerate learning and mastering a motor skill in older people. Objects: We designed this study to examine whether one session of Wii-Fit game with self-regulated KR is effective for elderly people, and to compare the effect of two different timings of self-regulated KR conditions. Methods: Thirty-nine community-dwelling elders, not living in hospice care or a nursing home, participated in this study. During acquisition, two groups of volunteers were trained in 10 blocks of a dynamic balancing task under the following 2 conditions, respectively: (a) a pre-trial self-regulated KR ($n_1=18$), or (b) a post-trial self-regulated KR ($n_2=21$). Immediate retention tests and delayed retention tests of balancing performance were administered in 15 minutes and 24 hours following acquisition period, respectively. Results: In both groups, significant improvements of balancing performances scores were observed during the acquisition period. Regardless of the group, mean of balancing performance scores on retention tests were well-maintained from the final session. There were no significant differences between groups in balancing performance scores during the acquisition period (p>.05); however, the post-trial self-regulated KR group exhibited significantly higher balancing performance scores in both the immediate retention test and delayed retention test than that of the pre-trial self-regulated KR group (p<.05). Conclusion: Therefore, subjects who regulated their feedback after a dynamic balancing task, during the acquisition period, experienced more efficient motor learning during the retention period than did subjects who regulated their feedback before a dynamic balancing task. Accordingly, in case of presenting the KR of motor learning in clinical settings to elders who reduced dynamic balance abilities, the requesting time of KR is imperative according to self-estimation processes as well as types of KR and practice.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2010

In recent study, we are referencing the necessity by examining the environment for housing policies for elderly Koreans. In reality, Japan, who is ahead of our country, has already experienced and is currently in progress for the aging society. They have developed a profound housing policy under all circumstances with the change of aging society. There forth, we are in progress of examining the series of helpful characteristics being presented by Japan, and how they have expanded and improved their housing support services. Our country must clearly ensure a resolution for investigating a new direction in housing policy and housing support services by learning through the development process of Japan's housing support services for the aging society. For instance, Japan have provided housing policy in both housing and welfare for senior citizens. Recently, the reason they are well adjusted for housing and welfare linked with special care and supportive living services and being skillfully focused on the maintenance policy is because they have great implications on how to successively organize housing policies for the aged society. Recent studies show preferred living arrangement and housing policy of the elderly for stabilization in the aging society. First, must be aware of the leading factors for housing in later life, organize dwelling patterns for diverse characteristics and give consideration for future life plans. Second, must continuously maintain an accessible environment in all community levels without changing the required services in their livelihood by adjusting to diverse changes for the aged. In addition, must organize flexibility in choice following these housing-support services for the elderly's desire and self reliance which raises profound questions on cultural policy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.6242-6249
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the physical performance and fear of falls in the community dwelling elderly and to investigate how the factors were connected to one another. The data was collected between January 3rd and March 30th, 2014 from 460 elderly people, aged 65 or older, who agreed to participate in this study. The data was sampled among the elders' assistants as a way of responding to the questionnaire after being read. The study scales were composed of the demographic characteristics, physical function and fear of falls. A total of 139 (30.2%) subjects had experienced a fall. The results showed a positive correlation with the chair rise, standing on the leg, pick up a penny from floor, timed up and go test, and fear of falls. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that a predictor of the fear of falls were chair rise and timed up and go test. A combination of physical performance accounted for 16.9% of the fear of fall. Based on the findings of this study, it is useful to more effectively develop fall prevention and intervention programs in a future study.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify health literacy among elderly and to investigate the relationships between healthy literacy and health status. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 158 participants between July and December 2019. The linguistic and functional health literacy (using the KHLAT and NVS) and self-rated physical and mental health were assessed. Above third of elderly have difficulties reading and understanding linguistic and functional health literacy. There were significant differences in health literacy according to residence, spouse, living together, educational level, occupation, monthly income, and number of diagnosed disease. Linguistic and functional health literacy and self-rated physical and mental health are closely related. Sociodemographic and disease related factors such as residence, educational level, monthly income, and multi-morbidity need to be considered when developing educational programs to improve health literacy. It could be possible to promote health status by improving the health literacy through individualized convergent educational program.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.99-110
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the experience and meaning of falls among care workers caring for the elderly. Methods: The participants comprised 10 care workers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The data collection period was from September to November 2020, and the data were obtained through individual in-depth interviews. The collected data were analyzed using the content analysis method of qualitative research. The main interview questions were as follows: First, in the event of a fall, "can you tell us about your experience and how you dealt with the fall?; second, "can you tell us about your role and the role of family members or the center that manages falls that occur outside of nursing visits.", third, "can you tell us about the difficulties in managing falls based on your experience?", and fourth, "how are falls that occur during nursing visits managed?" Results: As a result of analyzing the experiences of nursing care workers of falls while caring for elders in their homes, five main themes were derived. These were understanding the characteristics of the elderly at home, understanding possible emergency situations, providing caring services, minimizing physical harm, and delivering clear information. Conclusion: A significant finding of this study was that care workers who visit and provide care to elders at home confirmed the need for standard guidelines on appropriate responses in the event of a fall at home and the importance of managing emergencies arising from falls among elders at home. These results highlight the need for the development of emergency response education programs, such as programs on fall care among nurses and care workers who provide care to the elderly, and for enhanced understanding of the fall risk of elders who live at home.

• Journal of the Health Care and Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.361-374
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• 2023

This study was conducted using data from the '2020 National Survey of Older Koreans' to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics, health status, health management practices, and caregiving needs that influence cognitive impairment in early and late-stage elderly individuals. The research targeted 9,885 individuals aged 65 and above. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression. The study found that cognitive decline in elderly individuals was influenced by age, education, income, location, health status, and depressive symptoms. Those with cognitive decline showed lower health management practices, functional status, and overall health and social satisfaction. There was a high demand for home residency services and assistance with daily activities among cognitively impaired individuals, indicating the need for diverse support and policies within local communities for safe caregiving in the future.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.195-209
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• 2011

This study examined the prevalence of and factors associated with unmet care need among community-dwelling middle-aged and older people in Korea. Data were from the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study on Ageing (KLoSA), a national survey of 10,254 non-institutionalized adults aged 45 or older. Having unmet care needs was defined as needing personal assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) but having no available helper. Weighted logistic regressions were fitted to examine factors associated with unmet care needs. Overall, 7.3%, 14.5%, and 41.8% of subjects among the middle-aged, younger old, and older old, respectively, reported care needs of these, 34%, 33%,and 24% had unmet needs. Factors associated with unmet needs differed among the three groups: Education and income level were negatively associated with unmet needs among the middle-aged, but living alone was the only factor positively associated with unmet needs in both the younger and older old. The prevalence of and factors associated with unmet care needs differ by life-stage. Needed are home- and community-based care and services to meet the need for personal assistance among the elderly living alone in a community.