• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.227-239
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the differences in the reciprocal causal relationship between cognitive function and depressive symptoms depending on whether older adults lived with others or alone. Methods: We used panel data retrieved from the sixth (Time 1) and seventh (Time 2) waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). The study sample included 2,638 older adults living with others and 628 older adults living alone. We conducted cross-lagged panel analyses (CLPA) to identify the bidirectional causal relationship between cognitive function and depressive symptoms in the groups of older adults living with others and those living alone. Results: In the group of older adults living with others, cognitive function and depressive symptoms showed significant reciprocal relationships. In the group of older adults living alone, although the CLPA confirmed that higher levels of depressive symptoms at Time 1 influenced lower levels of cognitive function at Time 2, cognitive function at Time 1 was not associated with depressive symptoms at Time 2. Conclusion: The results suggest that the strategies for preventing cognitive decline and depressive symptoms should be developed according to whether the older adults live alone. Moreover, further studies should identify factors influencing depressive symptoms among older adults living alone, which will ultimately enable the management of depressive symptoms.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.475-487
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to comprehensively examine the facilitators and barriers to social participation of older adults in the society through systematic review of qualitative research. Through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, data from 2012 to 2022 were collected. The main search keywords were 'elderly', 'older adults', social participation', 'engagement', 'motiv^*', 'barrier', 'facilitat^*'. 7 articles that satisfy the inclusion criteria were selected for analysis. Facilitators and barriers of older adults' social participation were analyzed. The analyzed factors were assorted into 'personal/ internal factors', 'environmental factors', 'social network factors'. The results of this study emphasize not only logistical factors, but also motivation, desire, social context of older adults' as factors to social participation. To prevent older adults' social isolation, a broad understanding of what promotes and inhibits the participation of the older adults is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.37-50
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing communication satisfaction between geriatric caregivers and older adults in urban-rural complex communities. The ultimate goal was to design local community educational programs and policies to enhance communication satisfaction among geriatric caregivers and improve the quality of care services for older adults. Methods: To identify factors influencing communication satisfaction between elderly caregivers and older adults, a survey titled "CCEP: Assessment of Communication Status between Elderly Care Service Providers and Recipients" was conducted from February to July 2020, focusing on rural-urban complex areas. The survey was administered based on providers of elderly healthcare services. The survey targeted 131 respondents involved in providing care services for older adults. The dependent variable of this study was the communication satisfaction reported by elderly caregivers in their interactions with the elderly. The independent variables included perceptions of older adults, factors associated with communication difficulties, and communication efforts. Additionally, gender, working environment, working experience, and the proportion of face-to-face interactions with older adults during caregiving were controlled for the hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: The analysis revealed that communication efforts with older adults significantly influenced communication satisfaction (β=.09, p<0.01). However, perceptions of the elderly and communication hindrance factors did not have a significant impact on communication satisfaction among geriatric caregivers. Conclusion: Effective communication between geriatric caregivers and older adults is crucial for identifying and meeting the needs and demands of caregiving services, and it plays a vital role in overall caregiving service satisfaction. To enhance communication skills and satisfaction among geriatric caregivers and ensure the appropriate fulfillment of elderly care needs in the local community, the development of community-centered, specialized health communication programs and other initiatives will be necessary in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study compared cognitive task-directed functional motor control ability for reaching and kicking movements in younger and older adults. METHODS: Subjects were divided into two groups of younger and older adults, with 13 subjects in each group. Subjects were required to perform a dual task combining a functional movement and cognitive component. The task consisted of reaching and kicking movements. Participants performed indicated movements when a target appeared on a monitor. The target randomly appeared on the monitor every 10 seconds. The total performance time (TPT), joint angular velocity (JAV), and muscle activation time were used to evaluate motor control ability. RESULTS: There were significant differences in all evaluation factors in a comparison of younger and older adults (p<.05). TPT was significantly shorter in older adults, and JAV and muscle activation time were significantly slower than that in the younger adult group. Although the results for older adults were within the normal range for functional assessment, their motor control abilities were significantly worse for cognitive tasks compared with those of younger adults. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that a motor control assessment tool using a cognitive task would be helpful in assessment of motor control ability in healthy older adults.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.17-34
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• 2006

This study was done to suggest directions for research and interventions of health promoting behaviors in Korean older adults in the future. Thirty seven articles for health promoting behaviors in Korean older adults were reviewed and analyzed. Findings are summarized as follows: 1) The total scores of the HPLP in Korean older adults were 2.30-2.44 out of 4 points. In the subscale, the highest degree of performance is nutrition, following interpersonal support, self actualization, stress management, health responsibility and the lowest degree of performance was exercise. 2) The total scores of the Health Behavior Assessment Tool of the Korean Elders were 2.87-3.2 out of 4 points. 3) Among the characteristics of older adults, monthly pocket money, previous job had consistently significant relationships with health promoting behaviors. Sex, job and presence of disease were consistently insignificant relationships with health promoting behaviors. 4) Perceived health status, self efficacy, self esteem, family support and social support had consistently significant correlations with health promoting behaviors. 5) In regression analysis, self efficacy, family support, depression, self esteem were the most powerful predictors of health promoting behavior in more than two articles. Predictors accounted for 14.2-65.2 % of the variance in health promoting behaviors of Korean older adults. On the basis of above findings, It is necessary to develop the interventions for more regular practice of the health promoting behaviors in Korean older adults. The interventions are recommended to focus increasing the exercise & health responsibility and to use the strategies to increase self esteem, self efficacy, social support including family support.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.884-890
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• 2015

This study observed the effects of ankle strengthening exercise and whole body vibration on the balance ability of older adults, thereby intending to provide basic materials for intervention methods aimed at improving older adults' balance ability. The subjects were 20 older adults who had experienced a fall. They were equally divided into two groups. Ankle strengthening training was applied to one group and ankle strengthening training and whole body vibration were applied to the other group, a timed up and go (TUG) test and Tinetti performance oriented mobility assessment (POMA) were performed, and changes in the subjects' limits of stability were observed. The TUG and POMA results significantly differed between before and after the experiment in the angle strengthening training (AST) group and the angle strengthening training with whole body vibration (ASTWV) group. In addition, the interaction between timing and each group was statistically significant. The limits of stability significantly changed after the intervention in both groups. Differences in the posterior and right limits of stability were significant between the AST group and ASTWV group. Therefore, ankle strengthening exercise and whole body vibration improve older adults' balance maintenance and reduce falls or the risk factors for falls in older adults.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.341-352
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop & to determine the effect of an tailored falls prevention exercise for older adults. Method: Subjects consisted of 59 older adults (experimental group : 29, control group : 30) living at nursing homes. Experimental group participated in tailored falls prevention exercise for 16 weeks(3 times a week, 50 min every session). Data were collected before the exercise, 16 weeks & 24 weeks after the beginning of exercise. Results: 1) the experimental group significantly improved the muscle strength of hip extensor & flexor, knee extensor & flexor, ankle dorsiflexor, & plantar flexor compared to the control group. 2) the experimental group significantly decreased the mean time for 10 times chair stand. 3) the experimental group significantly increased the standing time on one leg and the number of heel raise for 30 seconds compared to the control group. In addition more older adults in the experimental group completed the tandem stance & semi-tandem stance for 10 seconds than the control group. 4) The experimental group significantly decreased the mean time of 6m walk and the fall frequency compared to the control group. Conclusions: This results suggest that tailored falls prevention exercise for older adults can improve muscle strength, static & dynamic balance and decrease the fall frequency of older adults.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.813-820
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• 2006

Purpose: This study examined the effects of individual reminiscence therapy on older adults' depression, morale, and the quality of life. Methods: The design was a single-group pre-test and post-test study. Subjects consisted of 31 older adults from two senior centers and a welfare center in Seoul. Individual reminiscence therapy was applied to study subjects four times, once a week for an hour at each time. Measurement tools were the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea (GDSSF-K) for depression, Mun Ae-ri's (1996) scale for morale, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) for the quality of life. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and pearson correlation. Results: The application of individual reminiscence therapy reduced older adults' depression (t=-5.65, p=.000), and enhanced older adults' morale (t=4.65, p=.000). The application of individual reminiscence therapy improved older adults' quality of life (t=5.00, p=.000). Conclusion: Findings of the study suggest that individual reminiscence therapy may be applied as a nursing intervention that contributesto the improvement of older adults' quality of life, reduces their depression, and enhances their morale.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.771-780
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how older adults kept their health good at a doctorless farm village. Method: Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 32 participants who were over 65 years old and analyzed in terms of Strauss and Corbin's (1990) grounded theory methodology. Result: The Core Category of health care of older adults was identified as 'enduring physical changes by themselves'. The process of this could be divided into 4 stages: the stage of bearing, the stage of managing daily living activities, the stage of passively collecting information and the stage of minimally utilizing health care services. Older adults accepted the aging process positively but health sources limitation passively, so they managed daily living activities and used natural food for health. In addition, they collected information related to health care and used health care services minimally. Conclusion: We found that participants managed their health passively because of negative attitudes toward active health behaviors of older adults by themselves and the difficulty of access to health care services. Therefore, various community health services for older adults need to be developed to empower older adults in the community.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2002

Eating behavior change as a result of nutrition education interventions as secondary prevention strategies can contribute to an increase in life expectancy and better health for older adults in the United States (U.S.). Many of the chronic conditions prevalent in older adults are modifiable by dietary changes, including heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity and osteoporosis. Important demographic observations in the U.S. including the projected large increase in number of older adults by 2030 have implications for nutrition education focus and services. A comprehensive review of nutrition education interventions for older adults in the U.S. published in 1995 identified elements from adult education theories that contribute to the effectiveness of nutrition education. These elements have been the focus of more recent studies with older adults providing additional evidence for relationships between concepts from commonly used behavior change theories and dietary patterns or change. In the U.S, an important program contributing to nutritional adequacy of the diet for older adults is the Elderly Nutrition Program which provides resources for congregate dining and includes a mandatory nutrition education component. Nutrition education is also provided through clinic based programs, and print and broadcast media. Application of the Transtheoretical Model has shown that the level of interest or motivation to comply with dietary guidance may be greater for some older adults due to an increasing burden of chronic disease and poorer quality of life, while others may not feel a need to change lifestyle habits.