• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.940-955
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the degree nutrient intake, health status and other characteristics of females aged 65 years and over in a longevity area according to family arrangement. For analysis, 585 female elderly were recruited from the Kugoksoondam area (Kurye, Goksung, Soonchang and Damyang counties), known as the longevity-belt region in Jeonla province, Korea. The subjects were categorized into three groups according to family arrangement (living alone, living with spouse only and living with family). Demographic characteristics were collected, as well as information on physical measurements, blood tests for biochemical indicators, health status and health-related life style, dietary behavior, favorite food groups, consumption frequency of food groups, nutrient intake and mini nutrition assessment. In the group living with their spouse only, the highest education, physical activity, diverse food intake, frequency of eating meats and fish, energy and nutrients intake, and score on the mininutrient status assessment (MNA) were found to be significantly favorable factors. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the group living with their spouse only had relatively superior nutrient intake and the quality of diet. In contrast, the group living alone showed the lowest self-rated economic status, diversity of food intake, and physical activity, with the highest frequency of drinking, smoking and regular exercise for almost everyday compared with the other groups. On the other hand, those living with family demonstrated the lowest intake of supplements or functional foods, and levels of hemoglobin hematocrit MCH, but the highest HBA1c and blood sugar. Therefore, the group living with family was assumed to be at risk of anemia and diabetes. These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase the health-life expectancy of Korean elderly people living in rural areas, according to family arrangement.

• 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.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2010

Objective:Korea has 3,170 islands with about 188,000 inhabitants. These inhabitants' needs for health services might go unmet because of geographic isolation, slimmer availability of health services, and higher proportion of the elderly compared with the mainland population. Unmet health service needs might result in serious health problems for these island residents. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate their unmet health service needs and related factors from population of Nowha island. Methods: The survey was conducted from July 30 to August 1 by trained interviewers. Target population were residents in Nohwa island and the sampling method was incomplete quota sampling. General characteristics, socioeconomic status, utilization of health service, and unmet medical service needs were investigated. First univariate and then multivariate logistic analyses were done for the statistical analysis. Results: 324 residents were surveyed and the proportion of unmet health services needs was 26.5%. People living alone and of female sex had increased health services needs based on univariable analysis. From the multivariate analysis, those living alone increased the health services needs. Self-determined low socioeconomic status and medical aid increased the proportion of unmet medical needs, but these were not statistically significant. Conclusion:In Nowha island, those who are elder, and of lower socioeconomic status had much higher unmet medical needs. The results suggest the need for more social support by qualified health services to solve this unmet medical needs problem.