• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.195-213
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to explore and understand the meaning of 'Good Death' that the Korean aged people are generally thinking based on their values and the sentiments. For this purpose, we carried out individual and in-depth interviews with 40 aged persons living in Seoul taking their genders and social-economic status into consideration from March to May 2003. We applied qualitative research method to this study. Eight graduate students were responsible for the interviews. They majored in gerontology or had experiences of field work with old persons. It took an average of one and a half hour and maximum of two hours for each of the interviews. All of the processes of each interview were tape-recorded under the agreement with each interviewee. The main and sub themes from the data can be classified to seven categories according to the Phenomenological Approach designed by Colaizzi(1978). The main theme of good death that most of the interviewees considered was 'Blessed Death', very similar to 'Death Fortune' in the five good fortunes found in Korean tradition and the Confucianism. Also, the main concept is classified to seven sub-themes: (1) Not seeing their children's death; (2) Dying in front of their children; (3) Not to be a burden of their children during their lives; (4) Dying after doing all of their duties as parents; (5) Dying with no pain; (6) Completing the natural span of their lives; and (7) Prepared death. Thus, 'Blessed Death' that Korean aged people consider seems to be very closely related with the lives, health, happiness and success of their children. Based on the findings, we concluded that both social policy makers and social service providers are required to keep in mind the meanings of 'Good death' that most of the Korean aged people consider in order to help them enjoy successful aging during their remaining lives.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.69-79
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• 2021

As the government's public services have been digitized, the necessity of research on the use of e-government services by middle and high-aged people has been raised. Thus, this study aims to verify the mediating effect of digital capacity on the relationship between the family structure and use of e-government services of middle and older aged adults. The study analyzed 1,660 middle and elderly individuals from the 2018 Digital Divide Survey conducted by the National Information Society Agency(NIA) using Baron & Kenny(1986)'s method for mediation. The result is as follows: first, the family structure of the middle and older adults has a significant effect on use of e-government services. Second, the effect of the family structure of middle and older aged people on use of e-government services is partially mediated by digital capacity. The result represents that the elderly living with two or three generations have higher use of e-government services than the elderly living alone and married elderly couple. Also the elderly living with two or three generations have higher digital capacity, resulting in higher use of e-government services. Based on the results, The study suggested that the specific plan for each type of family structure to promote the use of e-government services and a plan to improve the digital capacity of middle and older aged adults.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.23 no.4 s.76
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• pp.1-15
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• 2005

Korean society is experiencing rapid changes which are certain to shape the lives of the older people and their families. So, the purpose of this study was to improve the quality of the elderly welfare service in Korea. Even though the interest about the elderly welfare in Korea is rapidly on the increase, the reality of Korean Society still leaves much to be desired, quantitatively as well as qualitatively. Pay attent to this point, now going to grasp the situation of not the handicapped elder people but the general elder people actual life condition and demand for welfare. So this study focused on the demand of not out-of home service but in-home care service. It was based on the data from by Korea National Statistical Office, having observed 6,139 elderly people. The results were as follows. They hope to get the elderly welfare services about health examination service, nursing survice, supporting service for household. That was, the most of them wanted in-home care service than out-of home care service. To ensure effective care to the elderly, it needed development and settlement of welfare service in face of their daily living. And, even though they recognized that they should cover the elderly life expenses themselves, the rate was hit that indicated their adult children as a parents supporter. This means that we should consider not only to the elder people but also to the family which contained the old people as the elderly welfare service. As a remedy, we can find the cooperation between elder welfare service at the social welfare organization and counsel, education at the family strengthen center. To improve the quality of the elderly welfare service in Korea, the elderly welfare service should focus not only on the physical and spiritual health maintenance but also active understanding living environment and growing ability to arbitrate between individual and living.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.103-121
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• 2009

Increased consensus among gerontologists exist on the need to pay greater attention to the reciprocal relationship between the social and spatial in order to understand the construction of aged identity and everyday lives of old people. With urbanization, spaces are increasingly age-graded and as a consequence, urban elders are socially isolated from the community. In this study, we examine the social interaction patterns in various places specifically designated for the elderly, such as the Senior Center, Senior Welfare Center, and Hall for the Aged in Seoul. Main purpose of this study is to understand everyday life experiences of space the elderly people residing in the city go through. Data were gathered through qualitative, case study method. Results show that such spaces were important sites for social interaction for urban elderly who lacked social spaces after retirement and active parenting role. Also, it was shown that each place presents different contexts for social interactions and certain components of social class differences existed. Heterogeneity within the participants of each place was also observed. Quite strong stereotypes about certain places were also observed among the urban elders. Based on these results, importance of developing a 'community perspective' in the study of old age is discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.415-435
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate conceptual constructions which determined financial preparedness for retirement. This study was guided by two theoretical frameworks, planned behavior theory and hierarchical personality model. Based on two theories, the conceptual framework which aimed to explain financial preparedness for retirement were formulated. Data from 'The health and welfare profile of the elderly aged 65 and or older in Chung-choo city' was analyzed. The subjects consisted of 87 economically active elderly population. Structure equation model was employed for statistical analyses. The results of structure equation model revealed that the casual relationship between the level of perceived financial-planning knowledge and the level of financial preparedness for retirement was statistically significant. Also, the hypothesized structural model for financial preparedness for retirement had the good model fit. Implications for social work practice from this study were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.71-95
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of household income types and sources on the depressions and self-respect of the old aged. Although household income types and sources are supposed to be important to the mental health of the old aged as well as income level, there have been little policy interests to them. This study analyze the relationship between the household income types & sources and the mental health of the old aged, using the 8th data from the Korean Welfare Panel Study. Major findings are as follows. First, we find that there are considerable variations in the household income sources composition among the old aged, and that types of household income are related to the individual and family features of the old aged. Second, the results of regression analyses show that the household income types are associated with the depression and self-respect of the old aged. And, we find that some income sources affects the mental health of the old aged. The results of this study suggest that there should be policy attentions to the mental health effects of the household income sources so as to increase the adequacy of the income security system for the aged in Korea.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.59-76
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• 2012

This study examines the relationship between intergenerational financial resource transfers and preparation for later life among the middle-aged. The study sample consists of 1536 middle-aged individuals with at least one living parent and one married child. The level of preparation for later life is dependent upon the level of household economic status. The statistically significant variables predicting the level of preparation for later life include age, education, subjective health status, household income and household assets. Moreover, intergenerational resource transfers are statistically significant factors that explain the level of preparation for later life. The effect of financial transfers from middle-aged parents to their adult children on the level of preparation for later life is the most significant financial transfer variable.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2022

Article 10 of the Constitution All citizens have dignity and values as humans and have the right to pursue happiness. There is a need for support measures such as a means to realize the respect of dignity and values as humans, and how to efficiently maintain policies on welfare for the elderly classified as the socially disadvantaged. It was considered necessary to develop an elderly-friendly city for economic, physical, and social life. Dasan Jeong Yak-yong's respect for adults was to practice the ideology of Confucianism, so this was the most important thing in the past Joseon Dynasty. In particular, it was considered important to think of adults first in practicing filial piety.This study focuses on the long-term care insurance system for the elderly, one of the welfare policy measures for the elderly. The significance of implementing the long-term care insurance system for the elderly is to benefit not only the elderly, but also all generations, including the middle-aged and children who were in charge of long-term care. To this end, the government should properly manage the factors of the social insurance financial crisis caused by the low birth rate and aging population.In addition, concerns about health insurance are high, so it is necessary to secure an appropriate level of government budget for health insurance financial management and minimize unnecessary non-benefit. In addition, it is necessary to induce appropriate medical use through connection with construction medical insurance.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in young children's multiple intelligence and social behaviors based not only on Montessori and general programs of day care centers but also on their gender and social- demographic factors. The subjects were 329 young children (182 boys and 147 girls aged from four to five) from two day care centers in Cheongju city. The instruments used in this study were HAPI (Hillside assessment of Perceived Intelligence) to measure the surveyee's multiple intelligence and Park & Lee's scale to measure their social behaviors. The frequencies, percentiles, mean, standard deviations, Cronbach a, t-teat, F and LSD were used to analyze the collected data through SPSS WIN program. The results of this study are as follows: 1) As for young children's multiple intelligence, there are differences according to young children's gender, order of birth, parents' level of education and teacher's working period out of social-demographic factors. 2) As for the young children's social behavior, there are differences according to young children's gender, mother's level of education and teacher's working period out of social-demographic factors.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.699-709
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• 2019

Various health and social issues related to the elderly are emerging in line with the rapid aging of the population. In particular, dementia currently has a prevalence of about 10 percent of the elderly population in South Korea, which increases financial and social burdens to not only individual patients but also their caring family. To assess the effects of participating in the forest therapy programs for dementia prevention, this study recruited participants aged 50 and above and tested their depression (Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale; KGDS) and stress response (Modified form of Stress Response Inventory; SRI-MF), which are emotional aspects of dementia. As a result, KGDS showed a significant decrease of 3.2 points from 8.4 to 5.2 points, and SRI-MF showed a significant decrease of 7.2 points from 40 to 32.8 points, indicating a statistically significant improvement in both. In addition, participants with minor depression and high level of stress in the pretest showed statistically significant improvements in the SRI-MF for men, and the KGDS and SRI-MF for women. Furthermore, there were statistically significant improvements in KGDS for participants in their 60s and in SRI-MF for those in their 70s in terms of age, and in both KGDS and SRI-MF for participants with chronic diseases and in KGDS for participants without chronic diseases. This study confirmed the effects of forest therapy on the prevention of the emotional aspects of dementia and laid the groundwork for increasing the applicability of forest therapy by obtaining a place for dementia prevention as a field of forest therapy.