• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.33-48
• /
• 2023

In this paper we consider automatic speech recognition (ASR) for Korean speech data in which elderly persons randomly speak a sequence of words such as animals and vegetables for one minute. Most of the speakers are over 60 years old and some of them are dementia patients. The goal is to compare deep-learning based ASR models for such data and to find models with good performance. ASR is a technology that can recognize spoken words and convert them into written text by computers. Recently, many deep-learning models with good performance have been developed for ASR. Training data for such models are mostly composed of the form of sentences. Furthermore, the speakers in the data should be able to pronounce accurately in most cases. However, in our data, most of the speakers are over the age of 60 and often have incorrect pronunciation. Also, it is Korean speech data in which speakers randomly say series of words, not sentences, for one minute. Therefore, pre-trained models based on typical training data may not be suitable for our data, and hence we train deep-learning based ASR models from scratch using our data. We also apply some data augmentation methods due to small data size.

• Convergence Security Journal
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.231-237
• /
• 2024

The rapid aging of the global population poses significant challenges to public health systems, as it often correlates with various physical, cognitive, and social declines among the elderly. Traditional approaches to promoting healthy aging emphasize the importance of physical activity, mental engagement, and social connectivity. However, factors such as mobility issues and resource constraints can limit the accessibility and effectiveness of these approaches. Digital fitness technologies, including wearable devices, mobile applications, virtual reality platforms, and AI-based feedback systems, present innovative solutions with the potential to enhance the physical, cognitive, and social well-being of older adults. This study analyzes the latest trends in digital fitness technologies and proposes strategies for effective utilization in promoting well-aging. Specifically, it addresses the need for improved technology accessibility through affordable devices and user-friendly interfaces, the development of personalized fitness programs, strategies to enhance ongoing participation such as social interaction and gamification, and solutions for data protection and ethical issues. Effective implementation of these strategies is expected to significantly improve the health and well-being of older adults. Future research and policy development should incorporate these elements to maximize the impact of digital fitness technologies and enhance the overall quality of life for the elderly.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships among cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), participation and quality of life in community-dwelling elderly. Methods : Cognitive function, ADL, participation and quality of life were assessed in the 144 elderly people residing in the community. We used MMSE-K for measuring cognitive function, K-ADL for ADL, K-ACS for participation, and GQOL for quality of life. Results : Cognitive function was significantly correlated with social activity of participation and quality of life (physical health, psychological health, social relations and economic level). ADL was significantly correlated with participation (instrumental ADL, leisure activity) and all sub-areas of quality of life. Social activity of participation were significantly correlated with all subarea of quality of life except physical health. Among the variables, the most relevant variable was leisure activity. Conclusion : It was related to quality of life in the order of participation, ADL, and cognitive function. Among the sub-areas of participation, leisure activity was the most correlated with quality of life. This study, thus, aimed to provide basic data for successful elderly life by examining the correlation between cognitive function, daily life activity, participation and quality of life in community-dwelling elderly.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.395-415
• /
• 2011

The aging of population stems from the decline of birth and death rates. A sudden aging society results in a variety of social issues like the poverty, role loss, alienation, health problems, etc. of the elderly. What counts in solving these issue is to make good use of the leisure time of the elderly. Leisure activities in the elderly help maintain and improve their mental and physical health, and have a great influence on improving the quality of life in the elderly. In addition, they contribute to building up a healthy social structure by forming a social intimacy. Despite these positive aspects of leisure activities, however, multiple factors prevent the leisure activities of the elderly from being actively pursued. In this respect, since there is a need to take a look at how the varied leisure activities of the elderly expose themselves in different regions, this study made an investigation so as to see what characteristics and differences each region has in the leisure activities of the elderly 65 or above. As a result, the following facts were found out: the elderly in Seoul enjoy a relatively wide range of leisure activities compared with other regions; the elderly in Gwangju spend their time mainly at home: and the elderly in the Goheung region take part in leisure activities aimed at promoting friendship. It was also revealed that there are differences among different regions in the areas of leisure activities, including the types of participation in leisure activities, the types of leisure activities at and out of home, the purpose and satisfaction of leisure activities and the frequency of domestic trips.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2022

The main purpose of this study is to quantitatively grasp the effectiveness of the gardening program by conducting a gardening program to induce active activities of the elderly and to induce healing functions and social activities, and then observing the results before and after implementation. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, as a result of conducting 30 gardening programs for 20 elderly people at two elderly care facilities, the measure of depression was found to have an improvement effect as a practice-oriented program, and it was found to revitalize the elderly. In addition, it was found that the quality of life was improved by the gardening program, and it was found to be helpful in activating the brain.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2015

Objective : The purpose of the study is to find the factors affecting a social phenomena of the elderly and suggest a basic data for efficiency of a senior policy and type of the life in Korea. Methods : We refereed to sources from the Korean Statistical Information, the National Pension Service, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. We also surveyed and analysed the depression and death anxiety among the elderly in 2014. Results : First, most of them were low educated people and family composing a couple. An annual income were average. Second, medical costs were increasing constantly in proportion to the increase of aging population. Third, they had high depression index resulting from negative thinking of the future and themselves. Fourth, the death anxiety level of them were more than moderate and that was about the death of themselves and the process of the death. Conclusion : It is needed to help physical, mental, and social health and improve the quality of the life in the elderly through social program established a variety of special fields like occupational therapy and family support program belonging to the government.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.644-652
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the EEG according to the elderly's tendency to be addicted to smartphone games. We compared the effects of smartphone addiction on mental health such as brain waves, sleep problems and depression through comparative analysis of asymmetry and connectivity in quantitative EEG results. The study participants were two elderly people who were addicted to smartphone game and one elderly person who did not use smartphone (Ed- to confirm: only 3 participants?!). The participant's addiction tendency of smartphone was measured by using the smartphone addiction scale and EEG (QEEG) was used for EEG analysis. The results are as follows. First, the brain waves of elderly people and smartphone non-user elderly who showed symptoms of immersion and smartphone game showed a difference in asymmetry in both opening and closing anisles. Second, there were significant differences in the openness and the anxiety of the elderly who were immersed in the mobile phone and the elderly who did not use the smartphone. Through this, it is also meaningful to explore the relationship between senile cognitive impairment and smartphone use by exploring the effect of smartphone game use on brain cognitive function through comparison of EEG analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.621-626
• /
• 2018

We introduced the physiological responses of aging, active aging and also suggest the impact of physical exercise on body health status and elderly immunity. In this purpose, we searched the Pub Med data base for the articles (include our experimental papers) and review papers having the terms 'Aging', 'Active aging' and 'Physical activity and elderly' in the title, published from 1999 until 2018. The results were as follows: Exercise training has been extensively studied about the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress, disease, and aging in syndrome X patients and elderly. Combined and aerobic or resistance exercise training could reduce obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Exercise training has been extensively studied in cancer settings as part of prevention or treatment strategies. From this research, regular exercise has the potential to target tumor growth through regulation of inflammation and immune responses such as lactate clearance, NK cell activation (innate immunity), activation of cytotoxic immune cells, T cell activation (adaptive immunity), and immune surveillance. However, Endurance physical activity not only induces thermogenesis and diverse sports injuries but also elicits mobilization and functional enhancement of monocytes, neutrophils (which is caused by the cytokine changes such as TNF-alpha, IL-1) whereas it suppresses cell mediated immunity causing to increased susceptibility to inflammation and infections like cough and URTIs (upper respiratory track infections) in young and especially in elderly people. Therefore, Strategies to prevent physical fatigue, sports injuries include avoid overtraining, Adequate recovery and various type of rest during and after physical activity and assuring adequate nutrition supplementation such as glutamine, vitamin B, vitamin C, carbohydrate, ion or berry-contain sports beverages is helpful in physically active elderly.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.517-526
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to provide convenience to the senior center staff and policy makers through a research of "Life satisfaction" in the senior centers with a systematic review and meta-analysis of the considerations of the elderly, published in foreign journals for the past 10 years. We searched published studies in the Medline Complete, Pub-med central and Scopus databases from January 2007 to November 2017. The main key words used "Elderly AND(And OR aged) AND Personal Satisfaction/ or life satisfaction" and out of 595 searched articles a total of 6 studies were selected. After qualitative analysis of the contents of the study, meta - analyzes were conducted for factors with more than three quantitative values. The factors affecting life satisfaction of the elderly were physical health (pooled effect size 0.582, p = .000), mental health (pooled effect size 0.423, p = .000), economic problems (r = .51, p =. 001), social activities, and daily living. It is expected that this study which provides an understanding of life satisfaction of the elderly would contribute to provide general information for developing social consensus on the employment in the super aging society should help improve the quality of welfare facilities for senior citizens in the future.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2016

This study is to examine the effect that the degree of alcohol use and the factor of family relationship have on alcohol related problem with elderly people over 65 years old. The study utilized the data from Korea Welfare Panel Study in 2014 published in 2015, which is annually conducted nationwide study. AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) of the World Health Organization scale to assess the drinking problem in the study was used. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Presenting some discussions on the basis of the results of this study is as follows. First, looking at a cross-analysis of gender differences in drinking problems, elderly men and elderly women showed different degrees of alcohol problems. Second, looking at demographic characteristics that influence whether a drinking problem, younger age showed a serious drinking problem. Third, looking at the effect that depression and family relationship have on alcohol problem, depression appeared to have relatively more serious effect than the family relationship. According to the above finding, physical and mental health for healthy aging are important factors of the quality of life so a preventive approach to maintain healthy habits is considered to be essential.