• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2009

According to the rapid increase of the elderly population, especially frail older population, many kinds of elderly care facilities have been supplied within a relatively short period. Among them, elderly hospitals and elderly welfare facilities have occupied a major portion. The elderly hospital, which had emerged from 1994, has recorded sharp increase in facility numbers and bed numbers by the support of Korean government together with the increase of care demand. However, the concept and fundamental planning criteria of elderly hospitals have not yet been set up. This paper has derived the concept of the elderly hospital from the Medical Law and Elderly Welfare Law, and prospected the supply of it from domestic and international statistics. Also this paper has explored the fundamental design issues of elderly hospitals by analysing precedent studies and designs, and by surveying some facilities.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.7-19
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• 2013

Purpose: The main objective of this paper is, first, to assess a body of research evidence that articulates the impact of environmental and design factors on safety, quality of life, and health of the elderly who reside in geriatric hospitals or other elderly care facilities and, second, to draw out design implications that can be incorporated into design process and design decisions to help create healing environments for the elderly. Methods: Extensive literature review has been conducted to identify rigorous empirical studies that link the design of elderly care facilities to health-related outcomes and scrutinized peer-reviewed articles published in many different fields including architecture, psychology, nursing to gerontology. Results: The review found a growing body of rigorous studies that identified physical environmental and design factors that improve safety, quality of life, and health of the elderly in geriatric hospitals or other elderly care facilities. Implications: The findings of the review can be translated to design decisions to promote safety, quality of life, and health of the elderly in geriatric hospitals or other elderly care facilities.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.159-171
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the characteristics and ADL(Activities of Daily Living) associated factors of elderly inpatients in long-term care hospitals. Methods : Data were collected from the nationwide data of 'Survey of Patients (2013-2014)' administerd by the Ministry of Health & Welfare. The data included in this study consisted of 27,606 cases of elderly inpatients in long-term care hospitals. Results : The survey scores for the elderly inpatients were as follows: 57.6% 'Needed much and total help' with ADL, followed by 26.6% who 'Needed much help', and 15.8% who 'needed minimal supervision' in long-term care hospitals. The ADL score was high in the following categories: women, old age, referred visit, health insurance type, not-recovered & death, transferred, corporate hospitals, small hospital size, low number of physicians per 100 beds, and high number of nursing staff per 100 beds. The inpatients with 'diseases of the nervous system', 'diseases of the circulatory system' and 'diseases of the genitourinary system' were more likely to have high ADL scores. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that long-term care hospitals should provide active and proper care for patients with high ADL scores and improve medical personnel training as well provide more medical care.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.81-96
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• 2009

The expansion of long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) is expected to contribute to meeting the long-term care needs of the elderly with chronic diseases in a rapidly aging society. It is also expected to increase efficiency of health resource use and decrease elderly health expenditures by transferring patients from acute care hospitals (ACHs) to LTCHs. This study aimed to empirically examine how the expansion of LTCHs had influences on the length of hospitalization of the elderly in ACHs. Panel regression analysis was employed as an analytic tool using data of the National Health Insurance and the National Statistical Office from 2002 to 2006. The expansion of LTCHs was measured as location quotient (LQ) of LTCHs, denoting the share of LTCHs in a large city or province relative to the share of LTCHs at the national level. In addition, per capita GRDP (gross regional domestic product) and the proportion of population over 65 were included as control variables. The main findings are as follows. First, it was observed that LQ of LTCHs showed a statistically significant negative association with the length of hospitalization of the elderly in ACHs. Second, the negative correlation was evident among general hospitals with over 100 beds while it was not among hospitals with less than 100 beds. Third, LQ of LTCHs had more influences among the elderly over 85. In conclusion, the expansion of LTCHs seems to contribute to decrease in the inpatient cost of the elderly in ACHs and to increase efficiency in the utilization of health resources.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2020

Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify whether spirituality mediates the relationship between empathy and elderly care performance among Long Term Care (LTC) hospitals nurses in Korea. Methods: The data collection was performed July 1st to August 31th, 2018. Participants were 119 nurses from three long-term care hospitals in Korea. Self-reported questionnaires were administered to assess general characteristics, empathy, spirituality and elderly care performance. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and three-stage simple and multiple regression analysis as proposed by Baron and Kenny. Results: The level of elderly care performance of participants was significantly different based on age (F=3.92, p=.010) and nurse's position (t=-2.18, p=.031). Spirituality had a significant mediating effect on the relationship between empathy and elderly care performance (Z=3.64, p<.001). Conclusion: As spirituality completely mediates the relationship between empathy and elderly care performance, it is necessary to develop a nursing education program that applies spirituality and empathy and supports religious activities at an institutional level.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.9-20
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• 2023

Purpose: This study classified the actual functions of geriatric hospitals and examined the differences in their characteristics, in order to provide a basis for discussions on defining the functions of geriatric hospitals and how to pay for care. Methodology: This study used various administrative data such as health insurance data and long-term care insurance data. Cluster analysis was used to categorize geriatric hospitals. To examine the validity of the cluster analysis results, we conducted a discriminant analysis to calculate the accuracy of the classification. To examine cluster characteristics, we examined structure, process, and outcome indicators for each cluster. Findings: The cluster analysis identified five clusters. They were geriatric hospitals with relatively short stays for cancer patients(cluster 1; cancer patient-centered), geriatric hospitals with relatively large numbers of patients using rehabilitation services(cluster 2; rehabilitation patient-centered), geriatric hospitals with a high proportion of relatively severe elderly patients(cluster 3; severe elderly patient-centered), geriatric hospitals with a high proportion of mildly ill elderly patients with various conditions(cluster 4; mildly ill elderly patient-centered), and geriatric hospitals with a significantly higher proportion of dementia patients(cluster 5; dementia patient-centered). The largest number of geriatric hospitals were categorized in clusters 4 and 5, and the structure and process indicators for these clusters were generally lower than for the other clusters. Practical Implications: We have confirmed the existence of geriatric hospitals where the medical function, which is the original purpose of a geriatric hospital, has been weakened. It has been observed that the quality level of these geriatric hospitals is likely to be lower compared to hospitals that prioritize enhanced medical functions. Therefore, it is suggested to consider the conversion of these geriatric hospitals into long-term care facilities, and careful consideration should be given to the review of care-giver payment coverage.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Interior Design Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.187-190
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• 2005

As the population of the elderly has increased and the nuclear family has become popular, the demands of long-term care services for the elderly have arisen. However, a lot of patients, who need long-term care services, are in general hospitals because existing facilities for the elderly are not sufficient in terms of both quality and quantity. In this study, it is considered a good alternative to set geriatric wards, offering long-term care services for the elderly, in general hospitals. This study shows an analysis of geriatric wards in general hospitals, especially, based on the case of N hospital, and suggests the spacial elements of geriatric wards, which is different from other wards in the aspects of space program and operating system.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.411-416
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify oral health status and oral health care needs of elderly patients in long-term care hospital. Methods: Oral health examination was carried out by a dentist and questionnaire was completed by direct individual interview by a dental hygienist for 245 elderly patients in seven long-term care hospitals in Daegu from March 12 to April 16, 2011. Results: Those who need dental care were 188(76.7%) and was done by oral health examination by a dentist. 93 patients(38.0%) wanted dental care and 63 patients(25.3%) need dental care. The most important dental service in the elderly patients was denture and prosthetic service. As demand for denture and prosthetic service exceeds the supply, but only 35.9 percent of the elderly received the dental care service by the estimation of the caregivers. Conclusions: It will be necessary to establish the customized dental care service for the elderly patients in long term care hospitals. The oral health education for the caregivers is very important and the continuing education program must be implemented in the future.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.18-31
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• 2000

Background : This study is to identify the inappropriate hospital services for elderly inpatients over 65 years in general hospital with acute care functioning. Consequently elderly inpatient care and the management of long-term care facilities are key issues for current government health policy. Method : The survey was conducted for two months for all inpatients over 65 in 7 general hospitals, 6 work sampling days randomly selected. In each survey day, the subjective judgement by medical staff on the degree of acute care needs and by nursing unit manager on hospital services of each inpatients was also conducted. Result : The total number of cases collected are 2,541 elderly inpatients, according to subjective judgements by medical staff on inpatient condition. However 46.8% of cases are turned out to be non-acute care group. The frequency of medical services provided to non-acute group are 2~3 vital sign checks per day 78.2%, IV injection 40.1%, antibiotics medication 20.2%. Conclusion : Lots of elderly patients' who are staving in acute hospitals, at present need to be transferred to long-term care facilities. However, there was been shortage of long-term care facilities. It is expected to identify the need of elderly inpatients and therefore, to provide cost-effective, appropriate and good quality health services to elderly inpatients depending on their needs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.353-366
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was to define the care time of elderly in long-term care facilities and to compare and analysis the care time by staff and facility types. Method: The data were collected from 530 elderly over sixty, residing in two long-term care hospitals for dementia, three long-term care hospitals for the elderly and two skilled nursing facilities. Care time for individual residents was measured the total time spent by nurses, aides. Result: The average care time measured by nursing staff was 158.6 minutes a day. The average care time for one resident by nurse was 40.4 minutes, and by aides, 118.2 minutes. The difference of the care time showed statistical significance between long-term care facility types(p<0.001) : average care time for dementia hospital(199.1min) was twice as long as that of skilled nursing facility(94.1min). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the care time differentiates care time provided to elderly in long-term care facilities in Korea. The study suggests the need to emphasize the importance of standardization of level of staff and service programs by the long-term facilities.