• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.191-201
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• 2004

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate economic viability of public health center visiting nurse services for the low-income elderly with long-term care needs. Method: The sample consisted of 252 community dwelling elderly who enrolled in public health center visiting nurse services for three months or more. Data was collected on physical (ADL and IADL) and cognitive impairments of the elderly, contents and frequency of visiting nurse services, cost per visit, and costs of alternative services for long-term care. Result: The mean score of ADL and IADL levels of the elderly was 2.80.4904, which indicated these patients were mostly independent. Eighty four percent of the elderly subjects were cognitively intact. Among visiting nurse services supplied, providing assessment was 34%, followed by education and counseling 26%, medication 22%, and referral. The mean cost per visit was 17,824.1 won, which transformed into a total cost per person per year of 161,130.2 won. Comparing the cost of a visiting nurse service with those of other long-term care alternatives, the visiting nurse service was the least costly alternative, followed by an outpatient clinic, hospital based home care, and nursing home. Conclusion: Overall, the results of the study provide evidence of the economic viability of visiting nurse services for the low-income elderly among long-term care alternatives.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a visual feedbackbased balance training, using force platform biofeedback, on the postural balance of elderly faller. Methods: Fifty one community-dwelling older adults (aged 66-88 years) with a recent history of fall participated in the study. Participants were randomized to an experimental group (EG, n=25) and to a control group (CG, n=26). The EG participated in training sessions three times/week for 6 weeks. Visual feedbackbased balance training with the a computerized force platform with visual feedback screen was used in the experimental group. Static balance (center of gravity) and dynamic balance (Functional reach test, Timed "Up & Go" test, Berg balance scale) were assessed before and after end of training. Results: A significant improvement in static balance and dynamic balance were demonstrated within the EG (p<.05), but not in the CG. Conclusion: Visual feedback-based balance training may be an effective intervention to improve postural balance of elderly fallers.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.243-248
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• 2005

As environmental Problems are increasing, many attempts to solve problems and preserve environment are appearing around the world. Not only in construction, but also dwelling life, residents attend many activities to improve environmental problems. Ecological development example of Freiburg in Germany was focused in this study to show the direction of development of environmental friendly housing complex in Korea. The target of study is Vauban Housing Complex of Freiburg in Germany. The study methods are literature study and field trip. Contents of the study include 1) formation process of the complex 2) physical environment of the complex 3) environmental friendly factors of the complex 4) environmental friendly life style of the residents, etc. Result of this study is as follows. Vauban Housing Complex was remodeled from the existed army buildings by residents themselves through education and negotiations. Residents' life satisfaction and housing adaptation level were high on the whole. The principle of the complex formation was use of natural feature itself in maximum against developing in minimum. For instance, construction materials, energy saving, resources saving were planned and used carefully. The residents led community successfully according to environmental friendly life principles. In conclusion, the persistent study on environmental components is necessary that is suitable to Korean situation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.sup1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the beneficial effects of a new cognitive intervention program designed for the care and prevention of dementia, namely Learning Therapy. The training program used systematized basic problems in arithmetic and Japanese language as training tasks. In study 1, 16 individuals in the experimental group and 16 in the control group were recruited from a nursing home. In both groups, all individuals were clinically diagnosed with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type. In study 2, we performed a single-blind, randomized controlled trial in our cognitive intervention program of 124 community-dwelling seniors. In both studies, the daily training program using reading and arithmetic tasks was carried out approximately 5 days a week, for 15 to 20 minutes a day in the intervention groups. Neuropsychological measures were determined simultaneously in the groups both prior to and after six months of the intervention. The results of our investigations indicate that our cognitive intervention using reading and arithmetic problems demonstrated a transfer effect and they provide convincing evidence that cognitive training maintains and improves the cognitive functions of dementia patients and healthy seniors.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1954-1959
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• 2020

Background: Due to aging, blood flow rate decreases, also posture and chewing habit may be changed. Objective: To identify that changes in blood velocity in the common carotid arteries (CCAs) in old persons with unilateral chewing habit (UCH) and forward head posture (FHP) in the elderly. Design: An observational cross-sectional study. Methods: Chewing habits, FHP, and CCAs velocities were assessed in 85 elderly subjects. Chewing habits were measured by visual observation. CCAs measured the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), minimum diastolic velocity, and resistivity index. The subjects were divided into UCH and bilateral chewing habit groups depending on chewing habit. The subjects were also divided into >49 degrees and <49 degrees for comparison of blood flow between the left and right CCAs. Results: In the UCH, the chewing side had significantly higher EDV (P=.003), PSV (P=.023) than the non-chewing side. There was no significant difference in velocity between the CCAs in the FHP. Conclusion: This study shows that the blood flow velocity of the chewing side of UCH was higher, and unilateral chewing affects the CCAs velocity and thus highlight the importance of chewing habit in the elderly than head posture.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.643-654
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and psychometrically test the Korean Geriatric Loneliness Scale (KGLS). Methods: The initial items were based on in-depth interviews with 10 older adults. Psychometric testing was then conducted with 322 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 or older. Content, construct, and criterion-related validity, classification in cutoff point, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability were used for the analysis. Results: Exploratory factor analysis showed three factors, including 15 items explaining 91.6% of the total variance. The three distinct factors were loneliness associated with family relationships (34.3%), social loneliness (32.4%), and a lack of belonging (24.9%). As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, 14 items in the three-factor structure were validated. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that the KGLS' cutoff point of 32 was associated with a sensitivity of 71.0%, specificity of 80.2%, and area under the curve of .83. Reliability, as verified by the test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient, was .89, and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was .90. Conclusion: As its validity and reliability have been verified through various methods, the KGLS can contribute to assessing loneliness in South Korean older adults.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.344-355
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• 2020

Purpose: Recovery has a growing influence on policy for individuals with mental illness and their families. This study was designed to examine the meaning of recovery from the perspectives of community-dwelling patients with mental illness and their families. Methods: Using a descriptive qualitative approach, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted on 24 adults (14 patients with mental illness and 10 family members). All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings showed that recovery for the patients with mental illness suggested gradual changes by individual will and self-awareness, the relationship with both their family and self-help group, and the support of a therapeutic environment. Seven primary themes emerged from the analysis: improving insight on illness, strong will toward hope, discovering changed myself, helping each other together, gradual influence of positivity, being oriented to a therapeutic setting, and recognizing of home as a calm place. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that based on the conceptual elements of recovery of the patients with mental illness and their families, we expect to improve the systematic, comprehensive, and quality mental health services.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Background: To investigate the association between regular physical exercise and falling experience for 2 years and fear of falling (FOF) in Korean middle-aged and elderly population. Methods: Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging was used and 3,871 participants who exercised regularly were included at 2006 and follow-up until 2018. An analysis was performed to investigate the association between exercise (exercise time per week and duration) and falls (experience over past 2 years and FOF) using the generalized estimating equation model. Results: Compared to those who exercised more than 5 hours a week (reference group), those who exercised less than 3 hours were more likely to experience falls and FOF (odds ratio [OR], 1.334; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.059-1.682; OR, 1.218; 95% CI, 1.119-1.326, respectively). Compared to the group who exercised for more than 5 years, those who exercised for less than 1 year were more likely to experience FOF (OR, 1.310; 95% CI, 1.162-1.478). Conclusion: This study showed that there was a negative relationship between physical exercise time and falling experience and FOF in Korean 45 years or more community-dwelling adults. Based on these results, physical activity can be expected to have a positive effect on fall prevention, which implies the need for policy and research on long-term physical activity programs.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify relationships among Yangsaeng, activities of daily living (ADL), and physical activity in the elderly in Korea. Methods: A total of 257 subjects (ranged 60-88 yr of age) was recruited through convenient sampling. Data were collected with a self-reported questionnaire from March 2 through 25, 2009. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS/PC WIN 15.0. Results: The level of Yangsaeng was significantly different according to the level of health recognition (p<.05). The level of ADL was differed significantly according to age, successful aging, cohabitation, and health recognition. Physical activity was also significantly different according to age, educational level, cohabitation, (r=.385; p<.05) and health cognition (p<.05). The level of Yangsaeng was significantly correlated with ADL (r=.448) and physical activity (r=.385; p<.05). Conclusions: These findings help in understanding the health status of community-dwelling elders and suggest that promoting the Yangsaeng can be an effective intervention as a health promotion program for the elderly in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.23-31
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the anthropometric and clinical risk factors and the prevalence of sarcopenia in women aged 40 to 49 years. METHODS: The study design is a cross-sectional research and a total of 2,055 participants were included. The participants were divided into two groups based on their skeletal muscle mass index score. One hundred and twenty-six individuals were assigned to a sarcopenia group, and 1,939 were assigned to a normal group. The following variables were analyzed: age, height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, skeletal muscle mass index anthropometric measure, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, blood laboratory tests, fasting glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and smoking and drinking smoking statuses. RESULTS: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.5% (95% CI: 5.33-7.92). Anthropometric variables, such as height, BMI, and waist circumference, showed significance differences between the two groups (p < .05), except for weight variable (p > .05). In terms of blood pressure and blood lab tests, the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol were all significant risk factors for sarcopenia in the two groups. (p < .05). CONCLUSION: This study identified risk factors and the prevalence of sarcopenia among community-dwelling middle-aged women.