• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2008

This paper presents a task planning system for a steward robot, which has been developed as an interactive intermediate agent between an end-user and a complex smart home environment called the ISH (Intelligent Sweet Home) at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). The ISH is a large-scale robotic environment with various assistive robots and home appliances for independent living of the elderly and the people with disabilities. In particular, as an approach for achieving human-friendly human-robot interaction, we aim at 'simplification of task commands' by the user. In this sense, a task planning system has been proposed to generate a sequence of actions effectively for coordinating subtasks of the target subsystems from the given high-level task command. Basically, the task planning is performed under the framework of STRIPS (Stanford Research Institute Problem Solver) representation and the split planning method. In addition, we applied a state-partitioning technique to the backward split planning method to reduce computational time. By analyzing the obtained graph, the planning system decomposes an original planning problem into several independent sub-problems, and then, the planning system generates a proper sequence of actions. To show the effectiveness of the proposed system, we deal with a scenario of a planning problem in the ISH.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.230-241
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the effects of a swallowing training program on swallowing function and depression for nursing home residents with dysphagia after stroke. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent control group pre-post test design. The program (oro-facial muscle strengthening exercises, swallowing exercises, expiratory muscle strengthening exercises, and brain stimulation exercises) applied to the experimental group three times per week for eight weeks, 40-45 minutes for each intervention. The final data from 42 people (21 experimental and 21 control) were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 25.0 using descriptive statistics. 𝜒² test, t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Friedman test. Results: The experimental group was significantly improved than control group in oro-facial muscle strength, swallowing symptoms (Z=-2.22, p=.026), and oral intake function level (Z=-2.00, p=.046). However, there was no significant difference between two groups in depression. Conclusion: This study is meaningful in that it reorganized and mediated a swallowing training program as a safe, non-invasive exercise that nurses can implement in a nursing facility with limited medical personnel and it could be easily followed by older adults.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2013

Purpose: This purpose of study was to investigate the relationships among functional state, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction in the elderly with decreased visual acuity. Methods: The subjects were 162 elderly people from the G university hospital. Functional state was measured by Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) and Minimum Data Set-Home Care version 2.0 (MDS HC 2.0). Self-efficacy and Life satisfaction were measured by the tool of Rho & Lee (2011) and Yoon (2007). Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, and logistic regression. Results: The daily life function was significantly associated with self-efficacy and vision decrease. The regression model with these two variables explained 35.6% of the variance of daily life function. IADL was significantly associated with vision decrease, age, gender, and self-efficacy. The regression model with the three variables explained 52.9% of the variance of IADL. Life satisfaction is significantly associated with self-efficacy, daily life function, vision decrease and IADL. The last regression model with the four variables explained 51.8% of the variance of life satisfaction. Conclusion: The levels of functional state, self-efficacy and life satisfaction in the elderly with decreased visual acuity were low. Self-efficacy was an important factor that influences on the functional state and life satisfaction. Therefore, nursing interventions that can enhance the self-efficacy are required in order to increase the functional state and life satisfaction in the elderly with decreased visual acuity.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of subjective xerostomia and salivary pH in salivary glands stimulated by laughter therapy in frail elderly women. Methods: The research used a one-group pretest-posttest design. Data were collected from July 2, 2015 to September 30, 2015. A sample of 41 frail female elderly patients was recruited at A Nursing Home in K City, Korea. We measured xerostomia and salivary pH using a questionnaire and BCP test paper (pH 5.6~7.2). Laughter therapy was given once a week for four weeks (3 items). Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, paired t-test and Cronbach's using the SPSS 18.0 program. Results: There were significant differences in salivary pH according to oral health (t=-2.06, p<.05). There were significant differences in xerostomia (t=4.41, p<.001) and salivary pH (t=-7.94, p<.001) after salivary glands stimulated by laughter therapy. Conclusion: Salivary glands stimulated by laughter therapy improved xerostomia and salivary pH of the frail elderly. Therefore, salivary glands stimulated by laughter therapy may be useful in promoting and maintaining oral health among the frail elderly in the rapidly increasing population of old people.

• Architectural research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.31-40
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• 2011

Profit-keeping behaviors naturally occur in the market to satisfy consumers, and the logic behind it lies in the economies of scale. On the flip side, some commodities transacted in the market are not available or can not be easily acquired unless the demand is high enough. Under this proposition, some consumers rise and find their own solution to meet the services at a reasonable cost or at an adequate level. The commonly adopted way is to establish a cooperative, and it stirs purchasing power by pooling resources and further bargains price and service quality. As a consumer cooperative, housing cooperatives notably found in rural towns enable the elderly to continue independent living. This study is to take a closer look at residential life of the rural elderly in housing cooperatives. Utilizing in-depth focus group interviews with 40 residents in four housing cooperatives, this qualitative research draws main factors affecting the decision to move in, residential assessment, and strengths and weakness of living in a housing cooperative. The primary factor influencing the moving decision is to continue to independent living in a familiar community, and the bottom line is planning ahead. Frailty and bereavement are found to be the leading occasions for them to move. The participants are satisfied with the independent living arrangement, and particularly, cited such features as safety and security, elderly-friendly design, common spaces, freedom, social activities and efficient living. Also, it is stated that some cooperative natures such as control over the property and giving a voice on management render positive impacts on the satisfaction with communal living. In spite of all the benefits and strengths, participants face with a public notion that an independent living arrangement like a housing cooperative has never done before in rural towns, so that most people recognize it as part of dependent living arrangements like nursing home.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.715-721
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate how milk supplementation can benefit the elderly by increasing bone density but possibly harming the iron status concomitantly. Forty one elderly subjects over 65 years of age(male : 9, female : 32) participated. All subjects were apparently healthy, home staying and attending meal service for lunch at the welfare center. They were from low income area of Puchon city. One cup of milk per day was served for 10 months. The mean intake of calcium was significantly increased for females after milk supplementation. Males showed significantly increased means of triceps skinfold thickness, suprailiac skinfold thickness and waist circumference. Females showed significantly increased measurements fo three kinds of skinfold thickness, waist circumference, and hip circumference. There were no significant change in the mean bone density of lumbar spine$(L_2~L_4)$, femoral neck, ward's triangle and torchanter, but the proportion of osteopenia estimated by the T score of lumbar spine bone density was lowered from 50.0% to 34.6% for females. The mean Hb level was significantly for males. The proportion of anemia estimated by Hb(<12g/dl), Hct(<36%) and serum ferritin(<15mg/ml) were increased from 17.2% to 51.7%, from 20.7% to 44.8% and from 10.3% to 17.2%, respectively for females. It looks like milk supplementation can effect the intakes of several nutrients considered to be commonly deficient in the Korean diet fo elderly people, increase some anthropometric measurements, and decrease the proportion of osteopenia. However it can have adverse effects on iron status of females.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.871-894
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• 2010

Research was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of PST for the depression of Korean Elderly. The program and manual for korean elderly was developed based on PST procedures for depression as outlined by Nezu and D'Zurilla(2007). For the purpose, 150 old people over 65 who resided in chunchun were randomly selected. and screened with PHQ-9. 42 elderly who had depression symptom at middle level, were chosen for study and randomly assigned into experimental group(n=23) and control group(n=19). PST is a six session, manual-based conducted over an 6-week period by trained interviewers in the elderly's home. As a results, CES-D and KGDS of the experimental group have been significantly decreased and total SPSI-R has been significantly increased between pre-and post measures while no statically significant change was found in control group. This results suggest that problem-solving therapy program might decrease the depression and enhance the problem solving ability of the elderly and that PST can be suitable to home visit program with social work perspectives.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.31-40
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• 2024

Purpose: This study analyzes the factors influencing the housing preferences of elderly individuals when choosing residential areas in Hwaseong, a typical urban-rural complex city. Understanding these preferences is vital for formulating effective housing policies that enhance the quality of older people's life. Research design, data, and methodology: The survey conducted from March 10 to April 10, 2024, targeted 299 pre-retirees aged 50-64 living in Hwaseong. Using ANOVA and logistic regression analysis, the study examined essential factors affecting post-retirement residential decisions. Survey questions addressed essential considerations. Results: The results indicated that suburban housing was the most preferred option among pre-retirees in Hwaseong. The most critical factor that influences the choice of the home is ensuring convenience and relaxed in retirement. Significant differences emerged between housing type preferences, particularly in the importance of public transportation, cultural facilities, and housing prices. Conclusions: The study suggests several policy implications for urban-rural complex cities like Hwaseong. To meet the diverse needs of older people, urban housing should focus on improving accessibility, while rural housing should emphasize enhancing natural environments. Expanding rental housing options for older people and providing financial support for housing prices are recommended to promote housing stability for the aging population.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.269-289
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the policy and programs of the Seoul50Plus Foundation and to propose policies and programs to promote active aging of middle-aged and elderly people. A single case study was utilized as a research method. The analysis framework of case was approached with four frameworks: the context of policy and program, ideology-goal analysis of policy and program, supplier and customer analysis of policy and program, and process and domain analysis of policy and program. The analysis data included the homepage content of the Seoul50Plus Foundation, related 50+ policy and program data, active aging research papers at home and abroad, and presentation and meeting materials. The results of the research showed that the policy and program background and environment were essential elements for responding to environmental changes in the aging society. In terms of the philosophy-goal, job creation, social participation, and approach to life design were systematically carried out for the ideology of 'creating a new life vision' and promoting active aging. In terms of subject-target, the subject of policy implementation is systematically composed of three stages: 50+ foundation, 50+ campus, and 50+ center. The target was limited to 50+ generations(age 50~64) and had a problem that is limited to applicants. In the process-area analysis, programs such as educational support, work and entrepreneurship support, counseling information, and new-age cultural creation activities were designed to increase added value according to the characteristics of the middle-aged people. In conclusion, the future Seoul50Plus Foundation's policy and lifelong learning programs need to be systematically promoted through cooperation with businesses and universities, expanding the target audience, matching the characteristics of the middle-aged and elderly, and linkage among programs.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.431-445
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• 2000

In general the prevalence of old people is high and frequently have multiple diseases and symtoms requiring treatment. The nature of illness in the elderly has to be faced, and drugs do have an important part in the treatment of that illness. The purpose of this study were to describe health status and medication, and to provide some basic data for elderly's health education, especially for the right medication. Body mass index, self perceived health status, activities of daily living, disease and experience of past operation were surveyed to recognize the 249 elderly's actual health status. The degree of the elderly's understanding the way of medication, experience of side effects, experience of drug combination and incidence of drug adverse reaction along with drug combination were examined for medication. The aged $women(BMI; 10.7\pm13.3\%)$ overweighed the aged $men(BMI; 4.0\pm10.4\%)$. $69.0\%$ of them recognized their health good. Their activities of daily living were diminished following by the age group(p=0.0068) and relationship with self perceived health status were very significant(p=0.0005). They(192 elderly) suffered from multiple disease such as $osteoarthritis(49.5\%)$, $hypertension(32.0\%)$, gastric $disorder(16.1%)$, $diabetes(14.6\%)$, $osteomalacia(10.9\%)$, cardiovascular $disease(9.9\%)$, senile $cataract(5.7\%)$, skin $rash(5.2\%)$, liver $disease(4.2\%)$, kidney $disease(3.6\%)$, spinal cord $problem(3.6\%)$, respiratory $disease(2.1\%)$ $tuberculosis(1.0\%)\;etc(1.0\%).$ $28.3\%$ of them replied that they had an operation for appendictis senile cataract, peptic ulcer, spinal cord problem, pleurisy, hemorrhoid and the rest. Most of $them(87.4\%)$ knew the way very well how to use drugs, and $21.6\%$ of the replied 171 elderly experienced adverse drug reaction. Drug compliance rate were $high(83.6\%)$. In our study 56.9% of the 167 elderly took several medicine together. And $18.9\%$ of the 95 elderly who did drug combination had an experience of drug interaction. One person kept average 5.5 kinds of drugs at home among 243 elderly. They kept $digestives(79.4\%)$, $ointments(68.7\%)$, $vitamins(59.7\%)$, $analgesics(59.7\%)$, cold $medicines(45.3\%)$ antiarthritic $drugs(33.3\%)$, health $foods(27.7\%)$, antihypertensive $drugs(25.1\%)$, anti peptic ulcer $drugs(24.7\%)$, $laxatives(19.8\%)$, $antacids(16.5\%),\;antibiotics(l6.5\%)$, hypoglycemic $agents(10.3\%)$, cardiac $stimulants(7.0\%)$, $diuretics(4.5\%)$, antiarrhythmic $drugs(4.9\%)$, anti anginal $drugs(4.1\%)$, $hypnotics(3.3\%)$, $etc(38.3\%)$. With this result, we ascertain that polypharmacy in the elderly caused by multiple disease is common, which lead to drug interaction. So our task is to educate elderly how to use drugs in order to maximize their efficiency and to minimize their adverse effects.