• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.729-736
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to examine the senile dementia in Korea and then provides policy alternatives for the heal-thy life of the aged. The increaase of life expectancy is the hope for all, accordingly unhealthy life will be misfortune for them including their family. The physiological dysfunction of human body causes diverse problems. Among them, the most serious one is the malfunction of brain to include both Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. When considering the poor analysis for senile dementia and the non-systematic aspect of national health policy for the aged, this paper has concluded that more planned programs should be developed for the aged in viewpoint of national criteria.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.127-144
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to compare the perceptions of loneliness, death anxiety, and social capital among older adults living in urban and rural communities and to examine the moderating effects of social capital on the relationship between loneliness and death anxiety. Utilizing the survey data collected by the Aging Society and Social Capital Research Center in 2018, we analyzed 839 older adults living in urban areas and 322 rural older adults living in rural areas. We used descriptive statistics, results from t-tests, and χ² tests to compare the rates of loneliness, social capital, and death anxiety perceived by older adults across urban and rural areas. The moderating effects of social capital on the relationship between loneliness and death anxiety were tested by logistic regression analyses for each group of urban and rural older adults. Compared to older adults living in rural areas, a greater number of older adults in urban areas reported death anxiety and higher levels of loneliness. However, the perceived levels of social capital were higher among rural older adults. The moderating effects of social capital on the relationship between loneliness and death anxiety were not found among older adults living in urban area, but, for older adults living in rural areas, social capital including social cohesion and social support moderated the relationship between loneliness and death anxiety. The results of this study suggest that regional differences shown in the perceptions of loneliness, death anxiety, and social capital should be addressed, when considering extensions of social capital and related interventions to deal with loneliness and death anxiety among older adults.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Community Living Science Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.229-239
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• 2004

1990년 중반 이후 우리나라에서는 녹색농촌체험마을(농림부), 아름마을다꾸기(행자부), 새농어촌건설사업(강원도) 등 중앙부처 혹은 지방정부의 주도로 다원적 농촌발전과 주민참여를 중시하는 새로운 시범사업들이 도입되고 있다. 그러나 60∼70년대 산업화ㆍ공업화 위주의 정책으로 인해 농촌의 청ㆍ장년층이 도시부문으로 유입되었고, 80년대 이후 농촌에 대한 사회적 요구가 변화되었고, 농촌지역의 인구사회학적 구성의 변화로 농업ㆍ농촌의 신규 인력 대체가 어려워지면서 2000년 농촌인구 중 여성인구 50.2%, 65세 이상 노인인구 14.7%를 차지하는 즉 도시 노인 인구의 2.7배나 되는 인구구조를 이루게 되었다.(중략)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Community Living Science Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.99-116
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• 2004

1990년 중반 이후 우리나라에서는 녹색농촌체험마을(농림부), 아름마을가꾸기(행자부), 새농어촌건설사업(강원도) 등 중앙부처 혹은 지방정부의 주도로 다원적 농촌발전과 주민참여를 중시하는 새로운 시범사업들이 도입되고 있다. 그러나 60-70년대 산업화ㆍ공업화 위주의 정책으로 인해 농촌의 청장년층이 도시부문으로 유입되었고, 80년대 이후 농촌에 대한 사회적 요구가 변화되었고, 농촌지역의 인구사회학적 구성의 변화로 농업ㆍ농촌의 신규 인력 대체가 어려워지면서 2000년 농촌인구 중 여성인구 50.2%, 65세 이상 노인인구 14.7%를 차지하는 즉 도시 노인인구의 2.7배나 되는 인구구조를 이루게 되었다. (중략)

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.329-352
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• 2009

This study examined life in old age and images of the aged perceived by middle-aged and old-aged generations through indepth interviews with 30 persons aged 40s through 80s residing in three areas (city or county) in capital region in Korea to use it as basic information in planning social welfare policy and reorganizing social services in response to population aging in capital region in Korea. In terms of economic life of the middle-aged and olde-aged generations perceived older people's opportunities for work were rarely given to the aged due to ageism and negative stereotypes of aging and the aged, and the aged tended to regard themselves less able or unable to work. In terms of social life of the aged both middle-aged and old-aged generations perceived that the frequency of social participation was low, and the daily life of the aged was found mostly aimless, unorganized and unplanned. In terms of psycho-social life of the aged both generations still felt that they were not alienated from the family, neighbors, and the society. In terms of social welfare services both generations thought the aged needed basic services such as income maintenance, health care, housing services, and particularly they felt lack of social services. The old-aged generation was willing to travel to the distance taking more than one hour to receive social services that they would need. Both the middle-aged and the old-aged agreed upon the necessity of preparation for old age and the benefits of earlier preparation, however, they said that they could not prepare for their old age due to lack of social programs to help preparation for old age and due to spending for rearing and education of their children. In terms of perceived life in old age both middle-aged and old-aged generations tended to be slightly positive, but the degree of positiveness differed between respondents from urban area and those from rural area regardless of generations. Images of the aged were perceived to be overwhelmingly negative while positive images were very few in number regardless of generations. This finding may suggests that negative stereotypes on aging and the aged are also prevalent in Korean society like in Western societies. Based on findings of this study some implications for social policies in response to population aging in capital region were suggested.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.667-677
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• 2020

This study aims to investigate the effects of social connectedness on depressive symptom focusing on the comparison between the rural and urban elderly. Data from 'Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project: KSHAP' was used for analyzing. The analysis included 948 rural elderly and 982 urban elderly. The results showed that urban elderly's depressive symptom level was higher than rural elderly's. Depending on the subcomponent of social connectedness, there were differences in the influence on the urban and rural elderly's depressive symptom. It has been confirmed that only loneliness has affected urban elderly people, and that appraisal social support and loneliness have affected rural elderly people, and that belongingness social support has not been significant in both groups. Findings from this research have some implications for intervention endeavors in reducing depressive symptom of older people.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.707-726
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• 2017

Korea is proceeding to aging society at much faster pace than other countries. To alleviate various problems (health, environment, social relationships, psychology and emotion, and financial problems) of the elderly caused by aging society, there has been increasing attention to social capital. This study investigated types of ways that the elderly at individual level are aware of social capital and the characteristic. In addition, factors that influence the types were studied. Data from 1060 elderly with the age of 65 and older were collected in Korea. Excluding missing data on variables used in the study, data of 960 elderly were used for analyses. K-mean cluster analysis was conducted to investigate types of elderly awareness on social capital at individual level. Multinominal logistic regression was used to find out factors of the types. K-mean cluster analysis resulted in three types of awareness on social capital among the elderly: (1) potential of social capital; (2) severance of social capital; and (3) wealth of social capital. Multinominal logistic regression resulted in that compared to potential of social capital type, when the elderly were younger, inclination of politics was more progressive, they did not have religion, they did not reside in rural, and they did not live in multiplex housing, the elderly were more likely to be in severance of social capital type. Also, when the elderly were women, had higher education and standard of living, were Christian, and did not reside in rural regions. they tended to be in wealth of social capital type. Based on the study results about awareness on social capital among the elderly and factors related to the awareness types, practical and political suggestions that promote social capital to solve problems of the elderly were provided.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.180-190
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the influencing factor of the quality of life of the elderly with mild dementia in rural community. Methods: A total of 123 elderly who were managed by public health center participated. They were diagnosed as mild dementia by MMSE-DS and CDR. Data were collected during the period from May to September in 2017 by a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, depression, dependence, comorbidity, sleep scale. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The quality of life was correlated significantly with depression. Depression was the factor affecting the quality of life of the elderly with mild dementia in rural community. Depression accounted for 54.0% as a variable of quality of life. Conclusion: This study was meaningful in that it directly measured the quality of life of the elderly with mild dementia is known to be difficult to measure and found meaningful results. it is necessary to identify the cause of depression and establish a linkage system between public health centers and health related organizations in the community. We suggest the need for individualized preventive intervention program and integrated psychological health service considering depression.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.525-540
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• 2012

The study aimed to investigate the current status and policy issues of senior clubs, focusing on the senior employment programs in South Korea. The current status of senior clubs was reviewed based on their legal basis, organization, project type, finance, project performance, and operational difficulties(low revenue yields, high labor intensity and low wages, lack of funding, weakness in provision of a legal basis, etc.). The policy directions of such clubs were also defined as follows: (1) establishment of the role of senior clubs(a local senior center of job creation projects, an execution entity of business senior employment programs matching the regional characteristics, and a center for community change through the promotion of awareness of the problems of and related to the elderly and through empowerment of the elderly); (2) improvement of the quality of jobs(need-based and sustainable job creation, quality improvement in education, improvement of the elderly practitioners' working conditions, and collaboration and partnerships among the public-private sectors); and (3) legislation and amendment of senior employment programs.

• 한국노년학
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.25-48
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• 2021

This study intended to examine the willingness to use as well as necessary functions for ICT-based care assistance devices in older adults living alone. A total of 241 older adults living alone from a city participated in the study. Study results show that many older adults living alone are willing to use ICT-based care assistance devices at their home and the functions of care assistance devices that they perceived as necessary were diverse. In addition, there were differences in perception of functional necessity by socio-demographics and medical and functional characteristics of older adults living alone. In particular, there were significant differences in the functions perceived as necessary according to the presence of osteoporosis, depression, insomnia, and limitations in daily activities. Our study findings suggest that the functions of ICT-based care devices should be developed in various ways in order to help healthy aging in place. Findings also imply that it is necessary to provide individualized services and customized care assistance devices according to individual's medical and functional characteristics and needs.