• Physical Therapy Korea
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.25-32
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• 2004

The use of a gym ball is becoming more popular for dynamic balance exercises. However, little is known about the effects of the dynamic ball exercises in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to compare balance and functional mobility after dynamic balance exercises using a gym ball to reduce the risk factorfor falls. All of the 15 subjects were women between the ages of 68 and 91 (mean age=79.9 yrs, SD=5.87) at anursing home in Wonju. Seven of fifteen subjects were placed in the experimental group and the others in the control group. Three clinical tests were used to determine the degree of balance and functional mobility before beginning the exercise program, after 4 weeks of gym ball exercise, and after 8 weeks of gym ball exercise. These three tests included Timed Up & Go (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Dynamic ball exercises training for 8 weeks (5 days per week) included side stretching, prone walking, bridging, marching and opposite arm and leg lifting. There were significant differences found before the gym ball exercise program began and after 4 weeks and then 8 weeks in the experimental group (p<.05). Significant differences between the groups were shown for TUG and BBS (p<.05). No significant difference was noted between the groups for FIM. Therefore, gym ball exercises can improve dynamic balance and may be recommended to include in a therapeutic program to help the elderly reduce their risk of a fall.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.252-263
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• 2023

Purpose: To assess the feasibility, safety, and preliminary estimates of effectiveness of Tai Chi on the functional outcomes of older adults in the community. Methods: This was a mixed-method study that employed a single-group repeated measure design and in-depth interviews. Nine older adults were recruited from the community were recruited to participate in a Tai Chi program, conducted twice weekly for 6 months. Research outcomes included physical function, cognitive function, and quality of life, measured at intervals of 3 and 6 months. Findings: Tai Chi exercises were gradually conducted based on the health status of the older adults. All participants actively participated in the program with an average attendance of 90%. Consequently, the participants showed significant improvements in mobility and their memory recall ability at both 3 and 6 months. Additionally, the results of the Stroop test exhibited improvement 3 months after the commencement of the study program. Quality of life of the participants improved according to the mild cognitive impairment questionnaire, but it did not show significant improvement in health-related quality of life. Conclusion: The Tai Chi exercise program was a safe and, feasible program to improve the physical function, cognitive function, quality of life among the older adults in the community.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.127-144
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• 2007

This study was conducted for the purpose of analyzing volunteer workers' perceptions of and attitudes toward the behavior problems of the elderly residents after caring for the residents voluntarily at low-income nursing homes. Eleven male and female volunteers ranging from age 19 to 52 were asked how they felt about the elderly residents' behavior problems and what kind of behavioral problems they had experienced after doing volunteer works in the three chosen facilities. In particular, they were expected to explain what emotional changes they experienced during their volunteer service. In this study, it was observed that most of the elderly subjects experienced three categories of behavior problems: habitual, repetitious and unreasonable activities caused by the elderly residents' life span backgrounds, unexpected and/or abrupt behaviors resulting from gradual cognitive impairments, and physiological, awkward activities caused from gradual senility. The volunteers tend to believe that the elderly residents are naturally expected to act positively, since they have been provided with well- planned, regular care services such as bathing, counseling, activity programs, and religious guidances. On the other hand, some respondents stated that their experiences at the nursing homes caused them to form negative images of the elderly; they feel that the elderly are not helpful for giving advices on critical decisions, guiding and encouraging their daily lives, and offering any positive influences toward their own lives. Rather, they find themselves getting too much stressed as a result of their intimate contacts with demented or senile residents. Overall, in this study, it is proposed that education for confronting sudden abrupt behavior problems should be intensified more for female volunteers, since they tend to be more susceptible to emotional harassment resulting from the problem behaviors. It is also proposed that young volunteers who have not been systematically trained for confronting aggressive behaviors need to be separately assigned their roles in order to minimize the potential of confronting unseemly situations resulting from male residents whose mental health has deteriorated. Furthermore, it is also suggested that the combination of leisure-related activities for healthy residents and stressful intimate services for the frail residents be systematically planned and implanted for the volunteer program so that the volunteers can lessen the chances of suddenly finding themselves confronted with extremely abrupt agitations.

• Architectural research
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.31-40
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• 2011

Profit-keeping behaviors naturally occur in the market to satisfy consumers, and the logic behind it lies in the economies of scale. On the flip side, some commodities transacted in the market are not available or can not be easily acquired unless the demand is high enough. Under this proposition, some consumers rise and find their own solution to meet the services at a reasonable cost or at an adequate level. The commonly adopted way is to establish a cooperative, and it stirs purchasing power by pooling resources and further bargains price and service quality. As a consumer cooperative, housing cooperatives notably found in rural towns enable the elderly to continue independent living. This study is to take a closer look at residential life of the rural elderly in housing cooperatives. Utilizing in-depth focus group interviews with 40 residents in four housing cooperatives, this qualitative research draws main factors affecting the decision to move in, residential assessment, and strengths and weakness of living in a housing cooperative. The primary factor influencing the moving decision is to continue to independent living in a familiar community, and the bottom line is planning ahead. Frailty and bereavement are found to be the leading occasions for them to move. The participants are satisfied with the independent living arrangement, and particularly, cited such features as safety and security, elderly-friendly design, common spaces, freedom, social activities and efficient living. Also, it is stated that some cooperative natures such as control over the property and giving a voice on management render positive impacts on the satisfaction with communal living. In spite of all the benefits and strengths, participants face with a public notion that an independent living arrangement like a housing cooperative has never done before in rural towns, so that most people recognize it as part of dependent living arrangements like nursing home.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.878-888
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• 1996

The main purpose of this study was getting related to the pain charactristic data of elderly. It contains past and present health status, daily living activity level, pain frequency, causes, pain area, pain intensity, pain worse causes, and pain releave causes, pain management methods. The subject were 79 elderly whose age were over 65 years old. They were lived in their home environment. Half of them were resident of middle range city at province and the others were Seoul city. The data was collected from Dec. 1st. 1995 to Jan. 30th. 1996. Interviews were held with semi-structured questionaire after pilot study by researchers. Pain measurement tool were used graphic rating scale and Abstract of Korean Pain Language Scale. To analize the subject's general characteristics, past and present health status, daily living activity level, characteristics about pain, pain management methods statistical SPSS for win frequency were employed. The findings were as follows ; 1. There were 33(41.8%) male and 46(58.2%) female Below 69 year old were 20(25.3%), 70-79 year old were 42(53.2%), over 80 year old were 17(21.5%), mean age was 74(from 65 to 89). 2. Buddhist were 24(30.4%), Christian were 29(36. 7%), the other religious status or non religians were 26 (32.9%). 3. Past good health status were 63(79.7%), not so good status were 6(7.6%). Present good health status were 19(24.1%), moderated health status were 6(7.6%), not so good status were 14(17.7%). 4. Daily living activity limitation were 39(49.4%), nonlimitation of activity were 5(6.3%). 5. Walking limitation were 3(3.8%), nonlimitation walking were 52(65,8%). 6. Insomnia was 23(29.1%), no difficult were 38(48.1%). 7. Chronic pain complaints were 64(81%), diseases causes of pain were 25(31.6%), bad health behavior causes of pain were 27(34.2%). 8. Most pain area were back 30(29.4%), leg 17(16.7%), knee 16(15.7%), arm 13(12.7%), teeth, chest and head were each 5(4.9%), loin, trunk were each 4(3.9%), the other areas were 3(3%). 9. Pain intensity was 3.49(mean) by Korean Language Scale, 6.59(mean) by graphic rating scale. Sensitive pain was 3.5(47.9%), affective pain was 3(20.8%) It was high pain level and sensitive pain. 10. Most pain worse causes moving was 35(44.3%), pain relieving causes rest was 29(36.7%), 11. Pain management method were medication 40(42.1%), physiotherapy 23(24.2%), hospital 12(12.6%), the others 7(7.4%), none 13(13.7%). The conclusion ; Present health status of eldery was not so good. Almost half of them have some diseases. Most common diseases of eldery were arthristis, respitatory and heart problems. Foully nine percent of elderly had limitation of daily living activities. Eighty one percent of eldely had chronic pain. Most of them was back pain (30%). Pain intensity was high(score over 3.5). The worsening pain causes was moving and releiving causes was rest. Pain management method were pain medication, physiotherapy. Therefore, Nursing care plan for the elderly have to focus on pain because majority of elderly have chronic high level of pain related to the arthritis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• 제15권7호
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• pp.4184-4190
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• 2014

The present paper examined the stress and ADL (activities of daily living) index in relation to the characteristics of the elderly in nursing homes. For this study, questionnaires were given to 110 seniors in the N-district of Seoul, and S-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Province from May 1 to September 30, 2013. For data analysis, t-test, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSSWIN18.0 program. The analysis of actual proof was made at a significance level of 5 percent. The findings from the analyses were as follows: first, the relocation syndrome into nursing homes has a positive correlation with the stress of deficient family visits in the category of daily stresses; second, depression has a positive correlation with the stresses of deficient private time and space and deficient family visits in the category of daily stresses; third, weight control has a positive correlation only with the stress of deficient private time and space in the category of daily stresses, whereas a nutrition deficiency has positive correlation with the stress of deficient family visits in the category of daily stresses. These findings may serve as ground source data for establishing policies regarding the stresses in relation to the characteristics and ADL index of the elderly in nursing homes.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.91-101
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• 1999

The home nursing care system is an integral part of the health care delivery system in order to meet the various needs of consummer, in particular, early discharge patient from the hospital, patient with long term care needed and the elderly. To find out the cost of home nursing care services, the home nursing care records of patients registered by home nursing care units established in public hospital with 150beds during the period of 1996 - 1997 were analyzed. The subjects were 102patients, 45 of male patients and 57 of female patients, those who live in a rural area in Kymiggi - Do The results obtained are as follows : 1. The male patients accounted for 44.1% of the total, with 45cases : group aged 60 years and more was the largest group, accounting for 79.5%. 2. The most frequent disease revealed was the osteoporosis which constitute 35.3% of the total registered patients, followed, in order, by malignant tumor, cerebrovascular disease. 3. It revealed that the cost per visit for the male was 47,764won ; the female, 46,078 won per visit. Noteworthy the cost per visit was high in the older patient. It was clearly that the gender, years of age and the cost per visit were statistically significant at 0.01 level and 0.05 level. 4. The cost per visit for the non complicated disease was slightly higher than the complicated disease, but it is not statistically significant, the cost per visit by type of disease varied, the cost per visit for COPD was the highest, followed, in order, by in malignant tumor, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis etc. 5. It revealed that home nursing care cost for a eligible disease for home nursing care was less than the cost for hospitalization of the same disease, therefore, we expect that the home nursing care is cost efficiency. In conclusion, the home nursing care costs are needed to analyze further in comparison with the hospitalization costs for a certain disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.235-246
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of indoor horseback-riding machine(SLIM $RIDER^{(R)}$) exercise on balance of the elderly with dementia. Methods : Subjects over 65 years of age in the nursing home were divided into three groups : Alzheimer's dementia group(n=7), vascular dementia group(n=6), and general elderly group(n=6). All groups(n=19) practiced indoor horseback-riding machine exercise for 20 min a day, three days a week during 6 weeks, and their balance were evaluated at before and 2, 4, 6 weeks after intervention, using the BPM. The level of statistical significance was .05. Results : After the 4weeks indoor horseback-riding machine exercise, balance was significantly increased in the all groups(p<.05). Conclusion : Indoor Horseback-riding machine exercise had a positive effect on subjects' balance.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.776-790
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• 2000

Every year the number of the elderly increases in Korea thanks to the improvemen of social and economical levels and the development of medicine. However, many problems such as insufficent care and the isolation of the elderly have been commonplace. This trend exists not only because of increased lifespan but also the changing social structure of the nuclear family. Accordingly, inspite of the development of medicine, geriatric diseases including circulatory diseases are increasing in proportion of elderly population, as well as the severity. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that health care programs provide the best possible health care and functional capacities in terms of healthy elderly lifestyles. Especially, the phenomena of aging and geriatric diseases taking place with the elderly naturally are affected by lifestyle and the drastic changes in exercise patterns. This study aims to improve geriatric health by introducing a rhythmic movement program for the elderly to estabilish a health-promoting self-care system and by developing quality of life, perceived health status, their physical and physiological functions and emotional state. The theoretical framework used in this dissertation is derived from the Health-Promoting Self-Care System Model (Simmons, 1990), which integrates the Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory (Orem, 1985), the interaction model of Client Health Behavior (Cox, 1982) and the Health Promotion Model (Pender, 1987). As a quasi-experimental design, the nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design is utilized for this study. The subjects of this study consist of 64 people, over 65 years old who live in 2 nursing homes for the aged located in S city , Kyong-gi province and volunteered for this study from July, 12, 1999 to September, 17, 1999. They are divided into two groups：33 in the experimental group and 31 in the control group. The experimental group particpated in the Rhythmic Movement Program at the nursing home, which was comprised of 45 minutes a session, 5 sessions a week during 9 weeks. In order to measure the results of the Rhythmic Movement Program, aspects of perceived health status, balance, flexibility, grip strength, leg strength, heart rate, blood pressure, depression, anxiety and the quality of life were measured before and after participating in the Rhythimic Movement Program for the experimental group after 9 weeks, as well as the control group. The collected data were processed by SPSS PC+ and analyzed by the X2 test, t-test, ANCOVA and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The results of this study are as follows: 1. The perceived health status conditions in the experimental group show statistically significant improvement when compared to the control group (F=17.51, p=.000). 2. The physical and physiological functions, that is, balance (F=17.51, p=.000), flexibility (F=8.01, p=.006), grip strength (F=3.21, p=.018) and leg strength (F=25.78, p=.000) in the experimental group are higher than the control group. The vital signs, that is, the number of heart rate (F=.022, p=.884), systolic pressure (F=1.73 p=.193), and diastolic pressure (F=2.74, p=.103) in the experimental group compared to the control group decreased, but doesn't show statistically significant differences. Immune responses (F=5.13, p=.003) showed statistically significant increases in the experimental group when compared to the control group. 3. The emotional state are improved, that is, degree of depression (F=11.56, p=.001) and degree of anxiety (F=9.14, p=.004) in the experimental group showed statistically significant decreases. 4. The quality of life in the experimental group (F=3.03, p=.037) showed statistically significant differences compared to the control group. 5. The observations of the relationships among the perceived health status, emotional state , the quality of life, the relationships between the perceived health status, the degree of depression (r=-.653, p=.000) and the degree of anxiety (r=-.786, p=.000) were in contrary propotions, while the relationships between the perceived health status and the quality of life (r=.234, p=.008) were in direct propotion. In conclusion, the Rhythmic Movement Program used in this study for geriatric nursing care is simple and safe for application to the elderly and shows significant effects by implementing 5 sessions a week for 9 weeks. The Rhythmic Movement Program improves the quality of life, maintains as well as improves the physical and physiological fuctions and emotional state, therefore this program is strongly recommended for positive applications for independant geriatric nursing health care.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.794-806
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• 2020

This study was conducted in order to attain an in-depth understanding of and describe the Ego-Integrity Phenomenon of the elderly of age 65 and older. The data was collected from June 2020 to July 2020 as an in-depth interview consisting of semi-structured questions. The data was analyzed using the Colaizzi's method, one of the phenomenology methods. All interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Through analysis, 309 significant statements were extracted, and 88 formulations of meaning, 53 themes, 16 theme clusters, and 5 categories were derived. The categories and the theme clusters are as such : 'reflecting on the past life with delight' ('fruitfulness over the lifetime', 'achieving through fulfilling responsibilities', 'achieved specially and gratefully'), 'Currently lonely and distressed due to the bitter old days' ('Physical health needs and psychosocial needs are not met', 'Wasn't able to make good choices for parents and children', 'Elderly life is not easy'), 'Satisfaction from enduring tough and difficult journeys in life' ('Compensated for hard work at workplace and home', 'Problem solved through endurance and overcoming', 'Living a healthy elderly life by escaping from the habits of the past'), 'Realizing the way of life as an elderly' ('Now is the best and most satisfying moment', 'Managing self in old age', 'Living passionately, though it may be late', 'Retiring from the forefront of life with an abundant heart'), 'Passing on beautifully' ('Desires toward the later years', 'Hope during the last moments', 'Appearance and emotions when death approaches'). It was observed that during the Ego-Integrity Phenomenon of the elderly, they have come to discern the meaning of life by reminiscing the regrets and difficulties of the past, and through this reminiscence, they have come to attain a positive and transcendental hope for the rest of their lives. The Ego-Integrity of the elderly appeared to be subjective, dynamic, and occurring simultaneously rather than continuously. It is recommended to develop a variety of nursing interventions while taking into consideration the age and the type of experience of the elderly.