• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.293-303
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• 2021

This study aimed to confirm the nature of the experiences of elderly living alone who participated in the BeHaS program using community-based participatory research. 6 elderly living alone with metabolic syndrome participated as participants, and they played a role as a leader when conducting the 12 weeks BeHaS program as a community-based participatory study. Data was collected using focus group interview. As a result, Six categories were derived; 'the burden of becoming a research participant', 'knowing a new program', 'getting into the BeHaS program', 'having a new leadership', 'knowing about metabolic syndrome health care', 'Feeling worth through a changed self'. Therefore, this study has identified the nature of the experience of participating in the BeHaS program for metabolic syndrome through a community participation-based study targeting the elderly living alone, and it will be able to provide basic data for the operation and program settlement strategies in the Community of the BeHaS program in the future.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1223-1230
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• 2020

Due to the aging of the population, the number of the elderly is increasing, and the nuclear family is rapidly progressing. Today's AI speakers respond to user's commands rather than conversations that occur on a daily basis. If the elderly living alone do not talk first, the usability of the AI speaker will decrease. In this paper, it describes the development of AI speakers for active interaction tailored to the aged. This speaker can identify the movements of the elderly who live alone and their surroundings, actively speak to them, and display emotional expressions appropriate to the content of the conversation. Through this, users will be able to anthropomorphize AI speakers, so they can feel familiarity and emotional conversation is expected to play a positive role in easing their loneliness.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.702-704
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• 2018

본 연구에서는 비전 기술 및 스마트 밴드를 이용하여 집 안에서 노인의 자세 및 심박 수와 체온과 같은 건강 상태를 24시간 모니터링하여 위급상황을 인지하고 알려주는 서비스를 제공하는 시스템을 제안한다. 독거 노인의 비율이 증가함에 따라 노인들을 관리하고 보호하기 위한 시스템의 필요성이 대두되었다. 기존 연구에서 비전 기술을 사용해 사람의 자세만을 인식해 위급상황을 판단하는 것에 비해 본 연구에서는 스마트 밴드를 결합하여 위급상황 판단에 대한 정확도를 향상시켰다. 또한, 사람의 자세와 심박 수나 체온이 특정 값 이하 또는 이상으로 인지가 되는 경우 보호자에게 알림을 주어 적절한 대처를 취할 수 있도록 어플리케이션을 제공한다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.1246-1249
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• 2008

우리 나라는 고령화 사회로 접어들었고 그에 이어 초 고령화 사회가 예상되는 가운데, 실버 세대를 위한 체계적이고 실질적인 의료 환경이 요구 되고 있다. 독거노인과 거동이 불편한 노인들을 위하여 USN을 활용한 노인 건강관리 시스템(U-SilverCare)의 필요성이 급증하고 있다. 본 논문은 가속도 센서(Accelerometer Sensor), 혈중 산소포화도 센서 (POximeter Sensor), 심장박동센서(EKG Sensor)를 이용하여 실생활에서 일어날 수 있는 상황을 4가지로 구성, 실버 세대를 위한 U-SilverCare 응급상황 통보 시스템 시나리오를 구현하였다.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.479-490
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to examine the association of social networks and medical care utilization of elderly living alone depending on self-rated health status, and also to measure the moderating effects of welfare services for elderly. To this purpose, the data which was collected from the 2014 National Survey on Elderly in Korea was analyzed by Chi-square test and Poisson regression. According to the results, social networks and elderly welfare services affected to medical care utilization of elderly living alone, only who aware of their self-rated health status as bad. With this group, the frequency of contact with family and participation in lifelong education had a significant effect on increasing medical care utilization. In contrast, the frequency of contact with neighbors and the participation in elderly employment program were significant to reduce the utilization of medical care. Furthermore, the moderating effects of elderly welfare services were also measured that formal social gathering has an effect of increasing the medical care utilization of elderly living alone by expansion of their social networks. Based on these results, this study consequently has an implication for suggesting expansion of elderly welfare services, which might be an alternative to social networks of elderly living alone, and also for seeking the direction of political intervention that helps health promotion and disease prevention through the research of medical care utilization.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to identify latent classes of socioeconomic status and to explore whether those of socioeconomic status influenced self-esteem among elderly living alone. From the data of 2009 National Elder Abuse Investigation, 1,333 older adults who were over 65 years and living alone were analyzed. Latent class analysis, one-way ANOVA, and hierarchical regression analysis were performed to test the purpose of this study. Results of this study found 5 latent classes of socioeconomic status, named as high education-low income group, low education-low income group, middle education-low income group, high education-high income group, and low education-high income group. Next, there were significant differences in self-esteem depending on 5 latent classes of socioeconomic status. Finally, compared to low education-low income group, high education-low income group, middle education-low income group, high education-high income group, and low education-high income group showed higher levels of self-esteem, even after adjusting for confounding factors. Findings from this study suggested fundamental characteristics and public policy for elderly living alone.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2018

Objectives : This study aimed to describe the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and to identify predictors for their use in the elderly living alone. Methods : This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 1,099 subjects. Data regarding socio-demographic status, medical condition, cognition, mood disorder and use of OTC drugs were collected using self-administered questionnaire and from a specific semi-structured interview by a trained nurse. Data regarding use of OTC drugs were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine factors associated with the use of OTC drugs. Results : The use of OTC drugs were reported by 35.4% of the subjects. Analgesics (13.6%) was the most frequent drugs. Depression (OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.10-1.87) and comorbidities measured by cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) (OR=1.08, 95% CI=1.03-1.12) were significantly associated with the use of OTC drugs in the elderly living alone. Conclusions : Depression and severity of underlying medical conditions could be a predictor of the use of OTC drugs in the elderly living alone. The clinicians should be vigilant regarding the potential use of nonprescription medications in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.759-771
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of life in near-poor elderly living alone and experiencing depression. We focused on their lived experiences so that we could understand the essential structure of what kind of life they live. The eligible population included those aged 65 or older, showing 9 points or higher in the Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS), currently living alone for more than 1 year, having no problems of communication difficulties, and nationally defined as a near-poor group. A purposive sample of 8 seniors enrolled in s mental health welfare center in Incheon Metropolitan City were recruited. The phenomenological approach suggested by Colaizzi was used. Data was collected from May 2018 to October 2019 through in-depth interviews. As a result of the study, 6 categories, including 48 themes and 19 theme clusters, were drawn from the data: 'a shabby life that cannot live without help', 'a life where the body and mind are sick', 'a life that wants to be self-reliant', 'a life of gratitude', 'a life with inner peace', and 'a life that needed institutional support.' Findings of this study can be evidence for developing suitable emotional support programs for the near-poor elderly living alone and to enact various welfare laws and policies at the national level.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.489-511
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• 2009

While late-life suicide has been increasing and become an important issue for public health in Korea, little is known about the phenomenon and its contributing risk factors based on which effective preventive measures can be made. Since suicidal ideation is a major precursor to attempted and completed suicide, the objective of the present study was to reveal primary contributors to suicidal ideation. Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 247 community-dwelling Korean older adults (age≥60) in the mid-size city in Korea. The statistical methodology employed a robust hierarchical regression procedure that iteratively downweights outliers. Based on the stress-diathesis model, the study examined major diathesis and stressors directly explaining suicidal ideation. The study also explored the significant interaction among these factors. The findings revealed that living alone and depression were significant main antecedents of suicidal ideation. In addition, neuroticism X life events and neuroticism X depression were significant interaction terms with the strongest explanatory power, which provides an empirical evidence to support the stress-diathesis model in explaining suicidal phenomenon of the Korean elderly. The result demonstrates the theoretical implication as well as the practical implication for developing and implementing late-life suicide prevention strategies. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the factors associated with meaning in life among elderly female community dwellers aged 65 or older who were living alone. Methods: A quota sample of 222 elderly female living alone was recruited. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Welch's test, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression using the SPSS 22.0 program. Results: The factors associated with meaning in life included age, education level, perceived economic status, perceived health status, social support, and loneliness. This regression model explained 66% of the variance in meaning in life. Conclusion: Based on the results, comprehensive nursing intervention programs for enhancing meaning in life are required.