• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.36-41
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• 2022

In the 21st century, information collection and information provision based on digital informatization and intelligent automation are emerging as one of the social problems in the society for the elderly and the vulnerable groups in the welfare society including the disabled, and various methods are being studied to find realistic alternatives. Among these factors, the problem of the elderly living alone is emerging as the most serious, and as a realistic approach to solve some problems by applying information devices, it is a monitoring system using the Internet of Things(IoT). The need for an optimized system is emerging. In this study, the state of the elderly and the elderly living alone can be measured remotely by applying IoT technology. We present the research cases of a Breathing Sensor-based Smart Monitoring System that is used as a smart information system and used as a monitoring system for the elderly and infirm when it is identified as deceased through state detection

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.87-99
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between self-rated health and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) and self-care behavior of rural elderly in Korea, focused on the difference among three distinctive living arrangements; living alone, living only with his/her spouse, and living with their married children. For this purpose, data were gathered from a nationwide survey, a total of 586 elderly aged 65 or older and living in rural area, using the structured questionnaire. Also, self-care behavior were categorized into 4 groups; life-style practice, medical self-care, adaption to functional limitation, and emotional management. The major findings are as follows; 1) Rural elderly perceived their health little and more 'bad' but their ADL capacity were 'not difficult', especially among elderly living with spouse. 2) The level of 20 items in self-care behavior ($1{\sim}5$score) was ranged from 2.51 to 3.81 score. The behavior level of regular exercise, setting up additional phone, taking a nutrient, and testing BP or pulse regularly were low but that of taking a medicine according to prescription, close contact with other people, and regular eating were proportionally high. 3) The majority of self-care behavior were correlated with subjective health positively but medical self-care behavior were correlated with subjective health or ADL negatively. Based on these results, policy implications are discussed.

• 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.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2020

As the number of elderly people living alone increases, the frequency of fall accidents is also increasing. Falls are a threat to the health of older adults and can reduce their ability to remain independent. To solve this problem, we need real-time technology to recognize and respond to the critical condition of the elderly living alone. Therefore, this paper proposes a modified fall detection algorithm based on YOLO-KCF that can check one of the emergency situations in real time for the elderly living alone. YOLO can detect not only the detection of objects, but also the behavior of objects, namely stand and fall. Therefore, this paper can detect fall using the ratio of change of boundary box between stand and falling situation, and this algorithm can improve the shortcomings of KCF.

• 한국노년학
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.353-371
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to provide clues to social welfare policy making by revealing discourse on social intervention and response based on big data on elderly living alone in the COVID-19 situation. Keyword analysis, network analysis, and topic analysis were utilized to explore the ways in which news media have portrayed challenges facing older individuals and the ways in which the central and local government as well as private organization have responded to them. Results are as follows. First, networks(degree, closeness, betweenness) were formed around region, delivery, society, support, and vulnerability, suggesting an increased demand for economic assistance and social support as well as stronger service delivery systems. Second, key topics derived included "establishing public delivery systems", "establishing local networks", "Managing care gap", "Establishing a private economic support system", and "Establishing service organization system". Based on the research results, discourse on the organic role of government, communities and the private sector has been presented, suggesting policy and practical implications by proposing a discussion on how to intervene for elderly living alone in disaster situations such as COVID-19.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of depression and self-efficacy on health promotion behavior in elders living alone in rural area. Methods: This was a descriptive study. The survey participants were 369 elders living alone in rural area. The period of time for data collection was from June 23 to August 7, 2008. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-test, ANOVA, pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Depression was found to have a statistically negative correlation with health promotion behavior. Self-efficacy was found to have a statistically positive correlation with health promotion behavior. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor of health promotion behavior was depression. Depression, self-efficacy, number of chronic disease, and economic status accounted for 35.2% of the variance. Conclusion: It is necessary to prepare health promotion programs that can reduce depression level and improve self-efficacy in elders living alone in rural area.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2010

Objective : This study aimed to investigate and compare the prevalence of depression and suicidality among the elderly in a rural city according to their residence type. Methods : Participants were 311 elderly people (109 male and 202 female) in Icheon City, whom trained researchers interviewed and examined Geriatric Depression Scale, Social Support Scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Activities of Daily Living, Quality of Life Scale, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), module C. Using these data, we analyzed participants' risk factors associated with depression and suicidality. Results : The prevalence of depression was 28.0%. The prevalence in the elderly living alone and those admitted to residential facilities was significantly higher than that among the elderly living with family. Suicidality frequency was 19.6%. The suicidality frequency among the elderly living alone and those admitted to facilities was significantly higher than that among the elderly living with family. The risk factors for depression were age, admission to a facility, and low economic status. The suicidality risk factors were living alone, admission to a facility, poor social support, and a history of headache. Conclusion : These results showed the prevalence of depression and frequency of suicidality among the elderly in such a city was quite high. The results of this study remind psychiatrists of the importance of early detection and therapeutic intervention for the elderly with a high risk of depression and suicidality.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating and mediating effects of social support and social activity on the relationship between depression and quality of life in elderly women living alone. Subjects were 129 elderly living alone at K city in C province, from June to July, 2010. The data was analyzed using the SPSS program for descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. The degree of depression of elderly living alone was above the average(2.65), and that of quality of life was average(2.80). The correlated factors of quality of life among elderly women living alone included depression(r=-.745, p=.004), social support(r=.544, p=.000), leisure activity(r=.480, p=.024), and economic activity(r=.711, p=.001). Social support was an important mediator between the depression and quality of life in elderly women living alone. The moderating effects of social support and social activity between depression and quality of life in elderly women living alone were not significant. This study suggests that social support considered in enhancing the quality of life programs designed for elderly living alone. Further research needs to be done to refine moderating and mediating effects of social support, social activity including leisure activity, economic activity and volunteer activity.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.853-870
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• 2017

This study examined the changes of depression and life satisfaction among the elderly living together in group-home and congregate housing. And in this course, it was to verify the practical effects of the recent government and local authority community life of elderly people by comparing them with the groups of elders living alone. The study was divided into Time 1 and Time 2, and 205 person's data were used for the final analysis. PASW Statistics 18.0 was utilized to analysis the data of this study, because it is difficult to explain the results of this analysis, secondary qualitative research has been used to identify additional contextual information. The major results of this study are as follows. First, the depression of the subjects was significantly improved in the case of living in group-home and congregate housing, and it was significantly worse in the group of elders living alone. Second, the life satisfaction of survey subjects was significantly improved when living in congregate housing, group-home was significantly worse, and the group of elders living alone were not statistically significant but slightly worse. Third, mixed research methods were applied to make accurate interpretation of changes of life satisfaction of the elderly living in group-home. Based on the results of this study, it is possible to establish appropriate measures for the elderly to improve early adjustment and quality of life in community life. And the community life of the elderly can contribute to a real social safety net by solving the blind spot of welfare. At the national level, it can be utilized as a standard reference to improve and strengthen existing policies by providing data that can simultaneously examine the performances and problems of various policies related to housing or the welfare of the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.739-747
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• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to uncover the fundamental nature of living alone in female elderly. Methods: The phenomenological research approach developed by van Manen was adopted. Results: The theme was 'taking a firm stand alone on the edges of life'. The composition elements of living alone experienced by elderly women were as follows: 1) Corporeality: participants perceived their bodies by their health status. Unhealthy participants were suffering with diseases and dependant on other persons, while healthy participants were free from family responsibility and kept on moving. 2) Spatiality: participants felt both freedom and loneliness while they stayed home. 3) Relationality: participants felt pity and yearning for their bereaved husband and sometimes talked to his picture. According to their children's filial piety, participants were pleased or displeased. However, they incessantly devoted themselves to their children. 4) Temporality: participants considered the rest of their life as extra-time which was proceeding to death, and tried to keep themselves busy before they died. Conclusion: A nurse should understand the multifarious aspects of elderly women's life, and then intervene to consolidate their strengths for self-supporting the final years of life.