• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.195-204
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the association between hopelessness, social support and community integration, and depression. Methods: We analyzed data from a questionnaire administered to subjects aged 65 years or older living alone for a 2015 community mental health project in Gyeongnam S city. We used a correlation analysis and a hierarchical regression analysis to identify factors that affect depression. Results: When controlling for socio-demographic factors, hopelessness and community integration had significant effects on depression. That is, the higher the hopelessness (B=0.768, p<.001) and the lower the community integration (B=-0.163, p=.012), the higher the depression in elderly living alone. Conclusions: There is a need for approaches at both the individual and social levels that consider and improve measures to prevent and reduce depression. Moreover, it is especially necessary to enhance community integration.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.139-149
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to analyze characteristics related to the activity of Daily Living (ADL) and dementia among the elderly people who have Medicaid. The cross-sectional descriptive survey study was a nationwide randomization sampling among the population of elderly families who have Medicaid. The data were collected during the month of October, 1999 and total sample was 1,027 elderly people. There were major findings according to the studies. In the results of the ADL assessment most of elderly people were within the 24 to 45 point range. Also, 63.3% of elderly people who made 45 points do not need help when performing daily activities according to the 15 areas of activity components, and 4.9% of these people couldn't do their daily activities. The results of the Dementia assessment were 70.6% of elderly people were in the normal range, 21.7% have a mild case, and 2.8% have severe case of dementia. These were found by using instruments for mental states, which simplified to items of detection of early dementia. In the result of these tests, there was a significantly positive correlation between ADL and degree of dementia with the pearson correlation coefficients. As a result of these studies, the author recommend to strengthen function and organization of public health like a visiting nurse center for elderly people who are over 65 years old. In addition, the government should apply early detection and management system for dementia in the community continuously and cost-effectively, especially for elderly people who live alone and are vulnerable elderly as our priority.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the validity of a depth camera-based system for monitoring physical function, assessing its feasibility for accurately monitoring activities of daily living. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-three participants were enlisted to perform fifteen activities of daily living within a living laboratory designed to simulate a home environment. Activities were monitored using a depth camera system capable of classifying actions into standing, sitting, and lying down, with a conventional video camera employed for activity recording. The duration of each activity, as measured by the system, was compared to direct observations made by a physical therapist which were analyzed using a motion analysis software. The association between these two measurement approaches was assessed through correlation analysis, coefficient of determination, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman plots. Results: Our findings indicated that standing activities exhibited the highest correlation (r=0.847) between the system measurements and physical therapist observations, followed by sitting (r=0.817) and lying down (r=0.734), which demonstrated lower correlations. However, the ICC and Bland-Altman plots revealed notable variances between the two measurement methods, particularly for activities involving lying down. Conclusions: In this study, the depth camera-based physical monitoring system showed promise feasibility in distinguishing standing, sitting, and lying down activities at home environments. However, the current study also underlined some necessities of enhancements in capturing lying down activities.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.277-288
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• 2015

Purpose: As the rate of senior citizens living alone increases in the current aging society, there is much concern regarding the health and nutritional intake of solitary senior citizens. Therefore, this study compared the nutritional intake of senior citizens according to their family type. Methods: In July and August of 2011, two senior citizen welfare centers in Seoul were visited to survey 267 elderly women. Excluding 54 subjects for which the data were incomplete, information from 213 subjects was analyzed. The subjects were divided into three family types, living alone (LA, n = 74), living with spouse (LS, n = 78), and living with children (LC, n = 61). Results: The mean age of the LA group was the highest, while the mean age of the LS group was the lowest (p < 0.001), and WHR of the LC group was the highest (p = 0.049). Income was the highest in the LS group (p < 0.001). Frequency of eating out was the lowest in the LA group (p = 0.031). By Duncan's multiple analysis, the amounts of energy intake, vegetable protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, Vit D, Vit E, $Vit\;B_2$, niacin, $Vit\;B_6$, $Vit\;B_{12}$, and cholesterol were significantly higher in the LS group compared with the LA or LC group (p < 0.05). The intakes of calcium, Vit D, $Vit\;B_{12}$, and cholesterol were still significantly different among the three groups, even after adjustment for age and monthly income. The LA group ate less fruit and fish than the LS or LC group (p < 0.05). The LA group showed the lowest dietary diversity and the LS group showed the highest diversity (p = 0.014), however, the significance of dietary diversity score among the three groups disappeared after adjustment for age and monthly income. Conclusion: Elderly women living with spouse were receiving better nutrition than elderly women living alone or living with children. Therefore, solitary elderly women who do not live with their spouse or children should be offered greater opportunities to receive a balanced meal at a congregational kitchen or welfare center. To ensure their healthy diet, it is essential to provide continuous nutrition education with these groups in mind.

• Journal of the Korea Knowledge Information Technology Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.273-286
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• 2018

Korean government has taken various population policy so far According to demographic results, The aging population is rapidly aging and it is expected to deepen in the future. However, many senior citizens are also exposed to poor economic conditions and inconsistent health care risks Most seniors suffer from mental illness and chronic diseases. seniors in traditional cities feel very alienated as they change from large family to small family. As the number of elderly people living alone grows, social problems increase. At present, the health care for the elderly who live alone is not being taken properly, and they are under a very poor management system, both physically and mentally. Every human being has to be old, and we aim to spend our old age processes physically and mentally healthy. As the basic age of the elderly increases, it is necessary to consider various aspects of the welfare policies and medical policies that are followed. In this study, 100 elderly people over the age of 65 were surveyed for economic situations and physical and mental health conditions, and specially performed study on utility of 'urban senior multi care zone' to prove the necessity of introducing the latest digital devices to resolve these problems more effectively by analyzing serious feelings of alienation, loneliness, and emotional situations. Lastly, We conducted this research to find ways to help the elderly through customized health care.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

This study investigated the effects of self-esteem on the depression of baby boomer and eco-boomer generation (the children of baby boomers) living alone. It was identified from the point of view of comparison between the two groups. Using the 15th data of the 2020 Korea Welfare Panel, an independent sample t-test and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted with the data of baby boomers who live alone (born in 1955-1963) and eco-boomers who live alone (born in 1979-1992). The results of this study show that baby boomers who live alone had lower levels of education, income, and health condition than the eco-boomers who live alone, and had higher level of depression, but relatively lower level of self-esteem. In both groups, self-esteem had an effect on depression, but it was confirmed that the influence was greater in the group of baby boomers (Adjusted R2 .259) than in eco-boomers (Adjusted R2 .083). Based on the results of this study, practical and policy alternatives were suggested to prevent the depression among middle-aged, elderly people, and young adults who live alone.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.438-447
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• 2020

The purpose of this research is to investigate the mediating effect of sense of self-control in the relationship between loneliness and preparation for death of seniors living alone. The research results can be summarized as follows: First, the difference between the feeling of loneliness and the feeling of self-control, depending on the personal trait of the subject was examined. The subjects that are male, have no faith, and have their own houses showed a more intense feeling of loneliness than subjects that are female, have faith, and have their own houses, respectively. Also, the subjects that have their own houses and are engaged in economic activities showed a more intense feeling of self-control. Second, when it comes to the relationship between loneliness and preparation for death, seniors who had been hospitalized and had lower loneliness showed higher levels of preparation for death. Third, the analysis on the effect on sense of self-control revealed that the younger and the lower the loneliness, the higher the sense of self-control. Fourth, such sense of self-control had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between loneliness and preparation for death. Therefore, this research suggested measures to promote activities to prepare for death by decreasing loneliness and strengthening sense of self-control of the elderly living alone.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.415-423
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• 2016

This study examined the relationship between oral health behaviors and in senior citizens to determine how to improve their happiness index. The subjects in this study were 260 senior citizens aged 65 years or older, who resided in North Jeolla Province. A survey was conducted from June 17 to 30, 2016. The happiness index of elderly people who brushed their teeth more often and had dental checkups on a regular basis was significantly higher (p<0.05). Evaluation of subfactors associated with quality of life related to oral health showed significant differences in functional disturbances according to gender, age, the presence or absence of a spouse, and the use or nonuse of dentifrice (p<0.05). Physical pain significantly varied with the presence or absence of a spouse, educational level, monthly mean allowance, and regular dental checkups (p<0.05); significant differences were found in psychological discomfort according to gender, tooth brushing frequency, and regular dental checkups (p<0.05). There were significant differences in declining physical capacity according to gender, age, educational level, and monthly mean allowance (p<0.05); waning mental capacity significantly differed with age, living alone or with another person, the presence or absence of a spouse, and regular dental checkups (p<0.05). The factors that influenced the happiness index in senior citizens were age, living alone or with another person, educational level, monthly mean allowance and the Oral Health Impact Profile score (p<0.05). The study showed that measures are needed to improve the quality of life and happiness index in elderly people, including the development of oral health programs for this population.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 1999

Medication non-compliance among the elderly results in medical problems and substantial cost to the health care system. This study investigate predicted variable related to the medication task ability among elderly. This study was done in the selected 4 villages in Kimchun County of Kyungbuk Province from July to August, 1996. The subject was the resident that 202 adults above 60 years of age. The questionnaire of interview included medication task ability, socio-demographic data, COOP/WONCA chart, family ABGAR score. BDI(Beck depression inventory), ADL(activities of daily living), IADL(instrumental activities of daily living), and MMSE-K(minimental state examination-Korean version). The results were as followed : 1. Approximately 49% of study population was taking drug medication currently. We found that 93% of study population was successful at the medication task all alone, 6% was failure at the medication task all alone, so need help partly or completely. 2. Significant variables between group of medication task ability were age, educational attainment, IADL, and MMSE-K in univariate analysis. And significant correlated variables with medication task ability were ADL, IADL, MMSE-K, and BDI in correlation analysis. 3. Major predictors to medication task ability on multiple logistic regression were IADL and sex finally. Findings suggest that IADL is related to medication task ability than other test battery of health status, so IADL could be used to necessary for medication management and add information to conventional methods of assessing mental status.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.855-866
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• 2008

The dietary patterns and characteristics of oldest-old subjects over 85 of Sunchang County (total of 171, 61 males and 110 females) were studied. The average age was $90.6{\pm}3.7$ years old (male; $89.1{\pm}2.8$, female; $91.5{\pm}3.8$), and 90.9% of them were reported to have had no schooling experience. Family types having a spouse were much greater in men (50%) than women (1.8%). The percentages of living alone showed the gender differences, which were comprised of 33% of females and 18.3% of males. In this study, 73.7% of subjects answered "very good" or "good" for their health status. These elderly subjects might maintain their health through a relatively lower rate of smoking (22.2%) and drinking (27.5%), having non-sedentary activities (84.2% of the subjects are physically active) and enough sleep. Their characteristic dietary patterns include high preference of rice (96.5%) and blanch & Seasoned vegetable dishes (Namal, 90.6%) frequent consumption of plant-based food groups containing plenty of anti-oxidants such as vegetables and legumes, and they showed high rates of meal regularity (77.2%) and no skipping of meals (94.2%). It seems to be developed and disseminated in the congregate meal program for improving nutritional status of the elderly, since the coming increment of single-elderly family and single dwellers of rural areas.