• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.264-273
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• 2012

This study analyzes the food frequency for the elderly regarding different family types and finds the factors for nutritional risk, offers a basic reference for providing nutritional support for them. The study referred to the dietary behavioral survey data of 3,680 elderly people (1652 male and 2028 female) from 21 regions in the northern Kyeonggi province. The data was collected through the method of one-to-one interviews and was a part of the Community Health Survey for 2008 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). We classified family types as a household for elderly people living alone, a household of elderly people with a spouse, a household of the elderly with unmarried children and a household of the elderly with married children, and as for intakes of foods, the frequencies of taking fruits, vegetables, kimchi, rice with mixed cereals, meat, fish, bean tofu soymilk, milk and dairy products, as well as sweet beverages are calculated on a daily basis and skipped meals are calculated on a weekly basis. Elderly women showed lower income, lower education level, higher unemployment rates, and a higher rate of government healthcare subsidies than elderly men. Elderly women tend to live alone and with their children while elderly men tend to live with their spouse. In both males and females, the intake of fruits and vegetables were the least in the elderly living alone, while the elderly with married children ate the most. In both males and females, the household of the elderly living alone ate significantly less amounts of Kimchi than other family types. Elderly people living alone tended to have significantly less meat and fish, especially women. In the case of rice with mixed cereals, the elderly men living alone and the elderly men with unmarried children ate significantly less amounts than the elderly men living with a spouse. The elderly men living alone took significantly less milk and dairy products than the elderly men with unmarried children while the elderly women living with a spouse took significantly less milk and dairy products than the elderly women with married children. With regards to the frequency of meal-skipping, the elderly living alone had the highest frequency for skipping meals. From this result, having various foods is difficult for the elderly living alone. Furthermore, the elderly living with unmarried children demonstrated a low quality of dietary life compared to those of married children. Hence, it can be concluded that social support is important in order for the elderly to have a balanced diet.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 2017

Objectives: I examined the health and oral health status of elderly people living alone compared to elderly people living with their families by using data (2014) from the 6th Two-Year Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: Among 1,454 health survey respondents aged 65 years and over who participated in the 6th Two-Year Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014, 311 were elderly people living alone and 1,143 were elderly people living with their families. Results: In terms of socio-demographic characteristics, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high especially in women and when the subjects' age, education level, and income level were low. In terms of oral health status, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high when elderly people thought that their subjectively viewed health was poor and the frequency of drinking and exercise was low. In terms of oral health status, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high among elderly people who did not have good oral health in their subjective view and did not get oral examinations for a year and had a lot of difficulty chewing. Conclusions: Family support or additional social support for elderly people who live alone should be considered to promote the healthy lives of elderly people.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.101-131
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to develop, and test the effects of a group program on the subjective well-being and depression of the low-income depressed elderly women living alone. Conceptual framework was based on the positive psychotherapy and a broad range of intervention techniques of the solution focused therapy was integrated into the program by using assimilative integration methods. A quasi-experimental nonequivalent comparison group design was used to test the effects of the program. The newly developed group program was implemented to the intervention group and a reminiscence group program was implemented to the comparison group for 10-session. And no intervention group received only home-based routine care services as usual. Results suggested that the newly developed program was effective in increasing the level of subjective well-being, and decreasing the depressive symptoms of the low-income depressed elderly women living alone. It was also proved that the newly developed program maintained its gains up through 11-week follow-up.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.4833-4842
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to identify the differences of stress according to general characteristics and find stress related factors to reduce stress level of family caregivers for demented elderly. Subjects were 72 family caregivers for demented elderly in Seoul and Gyunggi province. Stress were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test and multiple regression according to gender, age, residence, marital status, number of family members, number of children, religion, education level, occupation, monthly income, relation with the demented elderly, caring years of the demented elderly and symptom of family caregivers for demented elderly. The results were as follows. First, the stress of family caregivers for demented elderly were significantly high in number of family members who live alone with demented elderly, education level with elementary school or below, monthly income with below 2,000,000 won, and the ones who have symptom by taking care of demented elderly. Second, stress related factors of family caregivers for the demented elderly were women, age between 60-69, number of family members that live alone with demented elderly, education level with elementary school or below, monthly income with between 1,000,000 - below 2,990,000 won, daughter-in-law and son of demented elderly. The family who live alone with demented elderly, family with low education level and low monthly income were important variables of family caregivers' stress for the demented elderly. Therefore it is assumed that support for family who living alone with demented elderly, family with low education level and low monthly income can reduce the stress of family caregivers for the demented elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.265-273
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• 1999

Elderly Koreans living in Muju Gun, Jeonbuk were divided into two groups with ages(65~74 years old group & over 75 years old group) and surveyed with questionnaire to investigate their dietary status and those factors affected with ages. The score of food habit in both sexes showed a falling tendency as their ages increased. Compared with elderly men, elderly women showed lower quality of diet. Elderly Korean were more consumed cereals and green vegetables than milk, egg, meat & fish, seaweed and fats & oils. As education level increased, the food habit score showed a rising tendency. The correlation coefficient between the score of food habit and education level was positive in illiterate and school graduates. The score of food habit of living together with their family was higher than those of living alone or living with their spouse. As household income increased, the food habit score showed a rising tendency. In the case of self consciousness of socioeconomic status was middle, food habit score is higher than those of very low. Dental status of eldery people did not affect food habit score. Palatability showed no significant correlation with age. Elderly Koreans prefered sweet taste than salty, sour, and bitter taste.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the dietary behavior, health status and nutrient intake by considering the level of household income of elderly people using data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES VII) 2018. Methods: The study subjects were 1,355 elderly people over 65 years old (558 men, 797 women). Based on their household income, participants were classified into three groups: low-income, middle-income, and high-income. The variables consisted of general characteristics, dietary behavior, health status, health related behavior, and dietary intakes. Dietary data were estimated by the 24-hour dietary recall. Results: In men, the low-income group encompassed older, less educated, less employed, and living with family of first generation. However, in women, there were no differences in employment by the level of income, and women living alone had lower income than subjects living with family. Elderly men in the high-income group had a significantly higher level of nutrient intake (energy, protein, fat, phosphorous, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C). Men in the low-income group consumed a significantly lower intake of fruits, seaweeds and eggs, including total food. Women in the low-income group had significantly less intake of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, and niacin whereas women in the high-income group had significantly higher intake of sugar & sweet, eggs, and beverages, including total food. Conclusion: These results suggest that the level of household income is an important factor that influences food and nutrient intake in the Korean elderly. The socioeconomic status needs to be considered differently among elderly men and women when implementing food assistant programs and designing nutrition education programs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.126-134
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• 2016

The aim of this cross sectional study was to examine the prevalence of sarcopenia in association with ADL, nutritional status and depression among community dwelling elderly women. The study subjects were 90 elderly women, 65 years and over, who were living in the communities of B and D metropolitan cities from May to July, 2014. The measurements were anthropometric measures, The mini-nutritional assessment instrument (MNA), ADL, IADL, MMSE, and SGDS-K were used. The mean age of the subjects was 74.7(8.22), the prevalence of sarcopenia of this population was 37.8%, almost none of them (94.4%) required assistance in ADL, 15.6% had a risk of undernutrition, and 12.2% had the symptom of depression. The sarcopenic subjects were characterized as low income, low education, living alone, and had more co-morbidity than those of the non-sarcopenic subjects. The sarcopenic subjects were undernourished, and had higher depression scores (SGDS-K), but not in the ADL, than those of the non-sarcopenic subjects. The calf and thigh circumferences, and cognitive ability were the best predictors of sarcopenia, In conclusion, low calf and thigh circumferences and low cognitive ability will increase the risk of sarcopenia in those 65 and over in community dwelling facilities and those three predictors will be useful in the early detection of sarcopenia in the future.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2002

This study was designed to assess diet and health-related factors of older adults in Korea. Subjects females were 2,660 adults aged 50 and over living in Korea. Males were 847 persons and were 1813 persons. The mean weight and height for males and females were 63.8 $\pm$ 0.3kg / 164.0 $\pm$ 0.2cm and 57.0 $\pm$ 0.2kg /150.6 $\pm$ 0.1cm respectively. BMI (body mass index), body fat, and percent fat were significantly greater in females than in males. The muscle mass and body water were significantly greater in males than in females. Twenty-one percent of total subjects lived alone and 26% with spouse only. Most of the subject's self-reported income was in middle level (65%) or low level (24%). Proportion of subjects who answered 'very poor' or 'poor' on perceived health status was higher in older group. The 50-64 years old group was facing more stress than 65yr and over group. Among male subjects,38.4% were current-smokers and 22.0% were ex-smokers. But only 6.5% of female subjects were current-smokers. Males turned out to have better dietary habits-meal frequency per day, mealtime regularity, regular meal size and balanced eating-than females (p < 0.001). This study revealed that the diet and health-related factors affect nutritional status and chronic diseases of the elderly. For better management and evaluation of health status of the elderly, more effective nutritional assessment tools should be developed.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the associations of food security with socio-demographic characteristics, nutrient intakes and mental health status among older Korean adults. Methods: This study was conducted using data from the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Subjects were 4,451 adults aged 65~98 years. Food security was measured using a self-reported question on food sufficiency of subjects' household. Based on the answers, study subjects were classified into secure, mildly insecure, moderately insecure, and severely insecure groups. Dietary intake was estimated by 24-hour dietary recall. Nutrient intake was assessed by dietary reference intakes (DRI). As for mental health status, the data on mental stress, depression, and suicide ideation were used. Results: Rate of food insecurity in older adults was 14.3%. Old age, being female, low education, low income level, living alone, and discomfort in daily living were more related to food insecurity. Means of nutrient intakes were significantly different according to food security status. Intakes of calcium, potassium, and vitamin $B_2$ were lower than recommended intakes in all groups. Consumption amounts of soy and soybean products, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, vegetable oils, meats, eggs, seafood, and dairy products were lower in food insecure groups. Mental stress, depression, and suicide ideation were higher in food insecure groups independent of the gender and income level. Conclusions: These present findings suggested that food security is related to mental health as well as nutrition status in older Korean adults. A national system that include food and psychosocial support programs for the elderly should be considered in order to improve the overall health of older Korean adults.