• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.303-306
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• 2017

Purpose: Gait variability is defined as the intrinsic fluctuations which occur during continuous gait cycles. Increased gait variability is closely associated with increased fall risk in older adults. This study investigated the influence of attention-demanding tasks on gait variability in elderly healthy adults. Methods: We recruited 15 healthy elderly adults in this study. All participants performed two cognitive tasks: a subtraction dual-task (SDT) and working memory dual-task (WMDT) during gait plus one normal gait. Using the $LEGSys^+$ system, we measured the coefficient of variation (CV %=$100{\times}$[standard deviation/mean]) for participants' stride time, stride length, and stride velocity. Results: SDT gait showed significant increment of stride time variability compared with usual gait (p<0.05), however, stride length and velocity variability did not difference between SDT gait and usual gait (p>0.05). WMDT gait showed significant increment of stride time and velocity variability compared with usual gait (p<0.05). In addition, stride time variability during WMDT gait also significantly increased compared with SDT gait (p<0.05). Conclusion: We reported that SDT and WMDT gait can induce the increment of the gait variability in elderly adults. We assume that attention demanding task based on working memory has the most influence on the interference between cognitive and gait function. Understanding the changes during dual task gait in older ages would be helpful for physical intervention strategies and improved risk assessment.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.121-128
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• 2006

Although population of the elderly is increasing rapidly, the older adults are the least users of the Internet in Korea. Prior research suggests that older adults are physically and psychologically disadvantaged when using the Internet. With the existence of the digital divide over different age groups, the objectives of this study were to identify the current status of Internet usage of Korean adults and to suggest some alternatives for solving digital divide on Internet usage. A total of 654 Korean adults, including the elderly, participated in both on-line and off-line (on-site interview) surveys using structured questionnaires. The results of statistical analyses indicated that the gap between the percentages of Internet users in younger and older groups was significantly wide, though many older adults had strong interests of Internet. To reduce this gap on digital divide, with an appropriate help from family and government, several characteristics of the elderly should be considered in designing some age-related web sites. Some effective alternatives suggested in this study may be used as basic data for universal design of Internet-oriented software.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2002

Eating behavior change as a result of nutrition education interventions as secondary prevention strategies can contribute to an increase in life expectancy and better health for older adults in the United States (U.S.). Many of the chronic conditions prevalent in older adults are modifiable by dietary changes, including heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity and osteoporosis. Important demographic observations in the U.S. including the projected large increase in number of older adults by 2030 have implications for nutrition education focus and services. A comprehensive review of nutrition education interventions for older adults in the U.S. published in 1995 identified elements from adult education theories that contribute to the effectiveness of nutrition education. These elements have been the focus of more recent studies with older adults providing additional evidence for relationships between concepts from commonly used behavior change theories and dietary patterns or change. In the U.S, an important program contributing to nutritional adequacy of the diet for older adults is the Elderly Nutrition Program which provides resources for congregate dining and includes a mandatory nutrition education component. Nutrition education is also provided through clinic based programs, and print and broadcast media. Application of the Transtheoretical Model has shown that the level of interest or motivation to comply with dietary guidance may be greater for some older adults due to an increasing burden of chronic disease and poorer quality of life, while others may not feel a need to change lifestyle habits.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.3-12
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• 2014

Larynx plays an important role in phonation and protection of the respiratory tract during swallowing. The reduced anatomical and physiological function in elevation of larynx and glottis closure can cause problems in voice and swallowing. The present study investigated the Korean version of handicap index of dysphagia in elderly Koreans. Therefore, 60 normal elderly Koreans ranged from 65 to 95 and 20 normal Korean young adults aged from 20 to 25 were participated in this study to compare total (T), physical (P), functional (F), and emotional (E) index scores between two groups as well as among sub groups (60s, 70s, 80s) in elderly. For swallowing, total and sub dysphagia handicap index (DHI) scores, voice quality during /a/phonation following swallowing (saliva and water), intensity of coughing, and L-DDK were measured. The results showed that functional (P), physical (P), emotional (E) scores as well as total (T) score were significantly different between young adults and old adults in DHI(p<.05). Additionally, there was a negative correlation between total DHI score and intensity of coughing (r=-.51) as well as L-DDK (r=-.70). These findings suggest that a slow rate in vocal fold adduction and reduced intensity of coughing in the elderly affect swallowing function. Thus, recently translated Korean version of DHI may be useful as supplement in evaluating the swallowing problems in elderly people.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.358-369
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was to identify health-related quality of life of Korean young adults and elderly with multimorbidity and to examine factors influencing their health-related quality of life. Methods: Health-related quality of life was measured by the Korean version of the EQ-5D. Using a descriptive study, the study incorporated a secondary analysis of the Korean version of the EQ-5D data from the 8th wave of the Korea Health Panel Survey in 2013. Selected demographic data and the Korean version of the EQ-5D were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. Results: Education, drinking, type of health insurance, and number of chronic disease significantly affected the health-related quality of life in the young adults with multimorbidity. Educational level, occupational type, drinking, physical activity, number of chronic disease, unmet healthcare need and the type of multimorbidity significantly affected the health-related quality of life in the elderly with multimorbidity. Conclusion: The factors influencing health-related quality of life were different for young adults versus elderly with multimorbidity. Therefore, there is a need for age-specific health care programs that may improve health-related quality of life of adults with multimorbidity.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the Wii Balance Board (WBB)-based jump performance for the elderly and to confirm the difference in jump performance according to age. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 40 young adults (aged 22.5±2.2 years) and 33 elderly (aged 75.1±5.2 years) without orthopedics disease participated in this study. Standing on the WBB then, with the signal "start," jump vertically to the maximum height at which you can jump, land on the force plate after jump and keep it standing on both feet. All subjects were required to practice the jump sufficiently before starting the measurement, each measuring three times, and the mean values were used. A one-minute break was provided between each trial. Evaluators waited within 1meter for every test to prepare for fall. Results: The vertical ground reaction force of elderly and young adults when jumping using WBB showed a significant difference (p<0.05) and demonstrated discriminant validity. Between two groups, there were significant differences in overall jump time (p<0.05), maximum value (p<0.05), minimum value (p<0.05), center of pressure (COP) pathlength (p<0.05), and flight time p<0.05). Conclusions: This study found that performing the vertical jump, the elderly showed longer jump time, lower vertical ground reaction force, COP pathlength and shorter flight phase than healthy young adults using WBB and demonstrated that as a measurement tool, WBB discriminated vertical jump performance between elderly and young adults.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.153-192
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• 2018

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of Korean adults' perception of parent-child relation on their self-efficacy, child rearing practices, elderly parent care practices, and happiness. In this study the parent-child relation is a relationship between the adults' parents and the adults. The participants in the study were adults (2,632; male=1,275, female=1,357) with children in primary, secondary, and/or university, with an average age of 45.44-years-old (male=46.96-years-old, female=44.10-years-old). The results showed a direct influence of the adults' perception of parent-child relation on their self-efficacy and their child rearing practices, and an indirect influence on their happiness. This indicates that a more positive adult's perception of parent-child relation leads to higher self-efficacy and greater devotion to their child rearing practices. And furthermore, an elevated self-efficacy enhanced their happiness. Gender differences were found for the influence of adults' perception of parent-child relation on elderly parent care practices. For Korean male adults, a more positive perception of parent-child relation lead to a more active participation in elderly parent care practices. However, for Korean female adults no direct influence was found. Based on these results, a discussion of the influence of adults' perception of parent-child relation on the adults' psychological characteristics and family-members relationships is provided.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.51-58
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• 2009

The senior adults which are a central manpower of economic activity of the nation decreased and the elderly sustenance allowance already went over 10%. And the economic activity participation of the woman which are the supporter of the unpaid the elderly within the family is increasing. This big change is expected to support awareness. To respond to these changes, the improvement of social welfare system for elderly with the job of retirement lifestyles of the elderly, a figure that is needed for the ceremony. The elderly medical treatment facility that began in 2008 the elderly long-term medical treatment law enforcement because of the demand is expected to grow. It is forecast with the fact that the data which is fundamental is most important will become that old person medical treatment facility of the middle-aged layer which is a central role of the protector who decides the facility use of the preliminary consumer of the elderly care facility and currently the very the elderly and manhood ceremony and the preference to plan of the elderly welfare facility. The purpose of this study is to present the fundamental data about the elderly care facility for comparative analysis the awareness & perfernces of the elderly care facilities of the senior adults & the elderly.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.264-274
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the current state of death preparedness and factors related to the death preparedness among community-dwelling older adults in Korea. Methods: A total of 6,879 older adults' data, selected from the Korean National Survey on the Elderly 2014 data, were analyzed. The criteria for selection were responding to the questionnaires directly and normal cognitive function. Stratified sampling logistic regression analysis was conducted on the compiled data. Results: It was seen that 37.3% of older adults were prepared for death; specifically, 28.6% had arranged for resting places, 10.7% had purchased burial clothes, 6.8% had subscribed to mutual aid societies, 0.7% participated in death education, and 0.6% had signed a will. The results of logistic regression indicated that the older adults who were females, older age, religious, highly educated, more satisfied with their economic status, living in rural areas, and participating in more social activities were more likely to prepare for their deaths compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: Education programs that prepare for death need to target marginalized groups in the community, such as male older adults and whose participation in social activities or satisfaction with their economic status are relatively low.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.495-503
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• 2023

Objectives: While older adults using community care services are known to be vulnerable for depression, community care utilization (CCU) may help to improve the mental health of these elderly. To date, however, it is much less clear how CCU affects depressive symptoms in the elderly population. This study focuses on the trajectory of depressive symptoms across years of CCU among older adults in Korea. Methods: Using the 2006-2019 Korean Welfare Panel Survey, this study is focused on elderly born in 1940 or earlier and selected 3281 persons for baseline interviews in 2006. This consisted of 35 800 person-year observations during a period of 14 years. Panel data analysis were employed to construct years of CCU. Results: After controlling for covariates, linear term of years using community care was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, but a quadratic term was positively significant. The trajectory of depressive symptoms across the years of CCU follows a U-shaped curve. Older adults in the first year of using community care reported the highest level of depressive symptoms. However, a significant and steady decrease in depressive symptoms was observed during the following 9 years of CCU, which then gradually increased. The level of depressive symptoms at the 14th year of using community care remains significantly lower than the level at the outset of its utilization. Conclusions: This finding implies that CCU could be beneficial for improving mental health among older adults.