• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.617-638
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• 2020

It is important to maintain a healthy dietary habit to enjoy better health and quality of life in later life. However, taking care of one's dietary lifestyle at an older age may be a challenge. Especially, community dwelling low-income older adults are one of the most vulnerable population in regards to holding a well balanced healthy diet. The purpose of this research is to identify the current status of food delivery services for low-income older adults and explore related issues. In order to achieve the aim, this study conduced two sets of focus group interviews with 8 nutritionists and 7 social workers in Seoul. According to the research results, there are issues related to meals on wheels such as vague eligibility, poor operation conditions, work overload, and difficulty in realizing customized meal delivery. Food security for low-income older adults is a prerequisite for aging in place. It is necessary to discuss the ways to create favorable operating conditions to deliver customized meals and manage nutrition and hygiene from the perspective of social work.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.111-122
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify health problems and support received from the health and welfare service using MDS-HC(Minimun Data Set for Home Care) in the aged living at home. Method: Eighty-one elderly persons were selected from those listed in community-welfare service centers in Seoul and Kyunggi Province between December 2002 and January 2003. Result: Eleven health problems per elderly person on average were identified, and the frequent care needs were in order: preventive health measure, health promotion, visual function, depression & anxiety, communication disorders, social function, pain, environmental assessment, oral health, cognition and falls. The number of health problems by the level of ADL was ‘ADL 1(Independence)’ 9.87, ‘ADL 2(Partial independence)’ 12.78, ‘ADL 3(Dependence)’ 13.73. Utilization of formal health & welfare services among the elderly was ‘meals on wheels’ 40.7%, ‘home helper’ 38.2%, ‘visiting of social welfare worker’ 21.0%, ‘physical therapy’ 19.6%, ‘day care center’ 12.3%, ‘volunteer's service’ 9.9%, ‘home visiting care’ 3.7%, ‘occupational therapy’ 3.7%, and ‘speech therapy’ 2.5%. Conclusion: The results suggest that using the MDS-HC 2.0 is applicable to help decide criteria for both health and welfare service supplied to the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1399-1408
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• 2007

This study was conducted to compare health and nutritional status of 45 home-living elderly people receiving free Meals on Wheels (MOW) (13 men, 32 women) and 81 low income class elderly people receiving free congregate meals (CM) (10 men, 71 women) served in Seoul. Data were obtained from questionnaires, anthropometry and interviews for the 24-hour dietary recall methods. There were no significant differences between the two groups in age and body mass index. Education level, type of housing, family type and income of the two groups also were not significantly different. In MOW, frequencies of exercise were lower while the prevalence of stroke, respiratory disease and loneliness were higher, compared with the CM. The scores of ADL, IADL and food habit of MOW were lower than those of CM. The average daily nutritional intake of both MOW and CM were as a whole under the DRI for Koreans. Energy and macro-nutrient intakes of MOW were tended to be lower than CM (except protein intakes for female). Ca, K, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin C and folate intakes of MOW were less than 50% of DRI. Percentages of subjects consuming energy less than 75% of EER and 4 nutrients intakes less than EAR were higher in MOW (42.2%) than in CM (1.2%). Our results indicated that dietary nutritional status of MOW was very poor, especially in the case of female elderly groups. For the welfare of the home-living elderly people receiving free MOW, meal service programs should be improved in quality of diet by national supports.