• KIEAE Journal
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2007

Korean society expects to be changing into aged society more rapidly than any other countries due to low birthrate and increase in life expectancy. Increasing number of elderly and social problems of aging society have provoked increase in research on elderly environment. Elderly housing facilities and living conditions are significantly related to the quality of life for older persons. The purpose of this study is to systematically analyze empirical studies on elderly physical environments in Korea, find out research streaming and understand social backgrounds and to suggest future research problems. For this study, contents analysis was conducted. Articles of four academic peer reviewed journals published from 1986 to 2005 were units of analysis. Using a keyword through library database systems, the articles were systematically selected. As results, trends of research according to 4 periods were defined. Among them as major trends, expansion of the quantity, expansion to interior design features for older persons, more facility types for dependent elderly(assisted living facilities, facilities for elderly with dementia, long term care facilities) have appeared. This result showed some directions and implications on elderly facility planning and development.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of intramuscular stimulation (IMS) therapy in older persons with musculoskeletal pain. The subjects were 181 older persons (54 males, 127 females) with musculoskeletal pain. Intramuscular stimulation unit with needles (size $.3{\times}30$ mm) was applied for the treatment. The analgesic effects were measured by visual analog scale (VAS). Results showed that the post-treatment VAS score was significantly decreased after IMS therapy for fifteen minutes compared to pre-treatment score. In addition, the post-treatment VAS score was significantly decreased in patients with chronic pain (pain duration of one year after onset) compared to the post-treatment VAS score in patients with subacute pain (pain duration less than three months after onset). There was no significant difference in analgesic effects according to gender and age groups. It is determined from this study that IMS therapy can be beneficial for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in clinical setting. Further study is needed to identify whether the IMS therapy can change the pain threshold in patients with neurologic pain.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2005

In order to investigate the differences in nutrient intakes and eating habits between people living alone and people living together with family or others by age group, dietary survey data of the subjects aged 20 years or older from 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed. Living status of the subjects was defined as 'single' when the subjects' household member was one person. Age, gender, income, education were adjusted during the comparative analysis. The subjects living alone had diets with lower score of nutritional adequacy ratio and lower quality, and drank more alcoholic beverages when compared with the subjects living together. Females were more greatly affected in dietary intakes by living alone situation than males. Of the four age groups, a group with ages from 30 to 39 years showed less nutrient intake patterns in persons living alone than in persons living together, but the rest three groups with ages from 20 to 29, from 50 to 64, and 65 or older did not show any significant differences. Eating habits of the subjects living alone, such as skipping meals, kinds of snacks, dining-out, were worse as a whole than the other. In conclusion, single living particularly of females or of 30 to 39 years of age group had negative influences on dietary intakes and behavior. There may be statistical errors if socioeconomic and demographic factors such as age, gender, income, and education are not controlled in the population study investigating the effect of living alone on dietary intakes. Further studies will be needed to know the age-specific reasons for the worse nutrient intakes of single living persons.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.182-196
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• 1997

Physiological changes that affect nutrient absorption and utilization occur in older adults, and the collection of nutritional information is an important part of examining the nutrition and health issue. A nutritional survey using the 24-hour recall method was performed to identify nutritional quality and leading patterns of food group intake for protein, vitamin C, P and Fe were over 1, whereas those for vitamin A, $B_1$, $B_2$, niacin and Ca were below 1. The MAR(Mean Adequacy Ratio) was relatively low(0.75). The percentage of energy from carbohydrate, protein, and fat was 65.1, 15.6, and 19.5, respectively, thus the quantities of energy source were ideal. The Older subjects revealed poorer nutrition quality than the younger subjects did. The food group intake pattern of the elderly was not diverse, only 9% of them consumed all food groups in a day. These results suggest that nutritional guidelines for older Koreans should focus on the maintenance of adequate energy intake. In addition, selection of foods with high protein and calcium, such as dairy food, should be emphasized, particularly in the older elderly. Nutrition programs should target individuals at risk of not receiving enough nutrients, like the oldest elderly, and persons with lower education.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.255-265
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of group art therapy on old adults' powerlessness, loneliness. depression and self-image (for 55-year old or older people). Method: An experimental group of 10 persons were given group art therapy for 1 hour per week for 8 weeks. Results: The result of this study showed that group art therapy is effective in decreasing older adults' powerlessness (p<0.05) and their loneliness and depression (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the score of loneliness (p>0.05). A tree test was executed to analyze self-image change. and the result of the tree test showed a significant change in the tree shape. which mean a significant positive change in self-image. Conclusions: The scores of older adults' powerlessness, loneliness and depression were lowered by the group art therapy. Therefore it is thought that group art therapy program was an effective intervention for improving older adults' quality of life. Thus, this study suggests to apply group art therapy as a supportive nursing intervention in order to manage powerlessness, loneliness, depression and self-image in old low-income adults.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2016

This study is a basic research to suggest user-centered healthcare environmental color, which aims to analyze tendency of color consciousness and preference depending on the user characteristics (generation, gender, residential area, and environment). For this purpose, this study constructed an analysis tool through the literature review with regard to environmental color of healthcare facility and influential factors of color preference. Besides, an online survey regarding general usage and satisfaction, health related color consciousness, and color preference tendency of healthcare facility was conducted targeting from 20s to 60s, total 1,500 persons. The results of this study are as follows: (1) The usage and satisfaction of healthcare facilities were higher for older generation and accessible urban area. (2) The respondents were aware that color and health are related, recognizing 'green' as healthy and stress relieving color. Besides, 'natural' and 'clear' was the highest in health related color image. 'Light' which relates to vitality was high as well for older generation. (3) In the color preference tendency survey, hue PB was generally the most highly preferred, in details, younger generation preferred B and R while older generation preferred G. The survey also showed high value and chroma were preferred, while female and younger generation preferred high value of 9.0 and low chroma close to achromatic color, which presented older generation preferred vivid color.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 1997

Anatomic and physiological changes of the larynx with advancing age result in morphologic changes of the vocal fold and reduced control of the phonatory mechanism in elderly individuals and are reflected in increased unstability of fundamental frequency (Fo). The purpose of this study is to increase current understanding of acoustic and stroboscopic characteristics of normal elderly persons voices. First, phonated /a/ vowel productions by 40 normal adults (20 to 40 years, 20 men and 20 women) and 40 normal elderly persons (60 to 80 years,20 men and 20 women) were analyzed, using CSL (model 4300B) acoustic analysis software, to obtain acoustic measures related to fundamental frequency stability nd vocal resonance characteristics. Second, stroboscopic images of the vocal fold behavior in all subjects were analyzed by experienced specialists. In the men, fundamental frequency variation (vFe) (p＜0.01), jitter. (p＜0.05), and shimmer (p＜0.05) for the older group were significantly higher than the value for the adult group. In the stroboscopic findings, edema of vocal fold had a significant finding in aged men (15%). In the women, vFo (p＜0.05), jitter (p＜0.05), and noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) (p＜0.05) for the older group were significantly higher than the value for e adult group and first formant frequency (F1) (p＜0.01) and second formant frequency (F2) (p＜0.01) for. the older group were significantly lower than the value for the adult group. In the stroboscopic findings, vocal fold atrophy had a significant finding in aged women (25%). Frequency stability, as reflected by vFo, jitter, shimmer, and NHR, decreases with advancing age in men and women and spectral analysis of phonated /a/ vowel productions reveals the lowering of the frequency of F1 and second F2 with advancing age, especially in aged women. Change in the mass of vocal folds, due to atrophy or edema, is considered to be the greatest factor in these acoustic changes.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.389-404
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• 2019

The present study aims to examine the relationship between self-reported sensory impairment and cognitive function among older adults in Korea. Drawn from the 2017 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs Korean Older Persons, a total of 10,082 adults aged 65 and over were included in analyses. Results from hierarchial multiple regression analysis show that those who reported greater subjective discomfort about vision, hearing, and oral function were more likely to have poor cognitive function. Results from hierarchial logistic regression analysis show. Results from logistic regression analysis show that having hearing and oral discomfort increased the a risk for dementia. Findings suggest that it is necessary to manage sensory function of the elderly at the government level and to develop self-evaluation tools to monitor changes in sensory function for older adults. Future research should target finding effective ways to improve health of older adults.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2003

This study was done to investigate the relationship of socioeconomic status and food intake to cognitive status of the older population. The subjects of this study consisted of 214 older persons aged 60 - 84 years. Interviews were conducted using the health-related habits and food frequency questionnaires to provide basic information for nutrition education program. We evaluated the current food consumption-pattern and cognitive status of the subjects. The results of this study were as follows： Mean age of the subjects was 69.7${\pm}$7.4 years. The average cognitive function score of the subjects was 7.9${\pm}$2.0 (full score was 10.0). Male had a higher cognitive status score than female. There was significant difference between cognitive status score and age, education level, pocket money, physical activity and family type. The subjects who had a higher cognitive status score ate more fish and meats group and milk and milk products than the subjects that had a lower cognitive status score. These results have demonstrated that various socioeconomic variables and food intake pattern affect on cognitive status with aging and suggest that proper nutrition education and adequate nutrient intake in quality and quantity are essential in maintaining cognitive status in later life.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.573-588
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• 2018

This study analyzed per capita consumption expenditure by the consumption quintile of Middle and Older Elderly Households and the variables that affected it. Sample of 2,983 households was collected from the 6th KLoSA in 2016. First, when comparing the HH's living expenses by the number of family members, two persons to a person ratio, more than six persons to a person ratio were 2.007 and 4.148, respectively. The ratio increased as the number of family member increased; however, the rate of ratio increase decreased. Second, the per capita living expenses for the first and fifth quintile were 5.11 million won and 16.93 million won at the per capita living expenses that applied the OECD's equivalence scale to the HH's living expenses. The per capita living expenses for the fifth quintile was 3.31 times higher than in the first quintile. Third, among the variables influencing per capita living expenses by the consumption quintile, the marital status was the significant for all consumption quintiles; however, HH's income, HH's total asset, HH's financial asset, pension, subjective perception of the economy class, home ownership, residence (metropolitan or small city), education (elementary school), participation groups were significant in some quintiles among all quintiles. Fourth, of the significant variables influencing per capita living expenses, the most influential variables were first quintile followed by second quintile, third quintile, fourth quintile, marital status, HH's income, home ownership, HH's total asset, participation groups, residence (metropolitan), subjective perception of the economy class, in order.