• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.391-396
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and identify variables for the standing balance of elderly subjects with different balancing abilities by using Kinect and Wii Balance Board. Method: The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) test was performed in 40 elderly subjects aged ${\geq}65years$ who can perform daily activities. The participants were divided into two groups, the healthy seniors (n = 20, BBS score ${\geq}52$) and the seniors with balancing problems (n = 20, BBS score < 52). Each group performed two standing tests (eyes open and eyes close) with two devices (Kinect and Wii Balance Board). The root mean square (RMS), mean distance (MDIST), range of distance (ROD), mean velocity, and 95% ellipse area were calculated from the measured data. Results: Among the calculated variables, RMS, MDIST, and ROD in the mediolateral direction showed significant differences between the two groups and a negative correlation with BBS scores. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that simple standing balance of the elderly can be measured with Kinect and Wii Balance Board, which are low-cost, easy to carry, and easy to use, by using the selected variables.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.410-422
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• 1998

To promote health status, strategies and interventions to improve nutrition should be based on the proper diagnosis of the subject's eating patterns. The elderly usually have traditional food habits and preferences, and it is very difficult to change them. This study was designed to identify dietary behavior and food preference of the elderly, in order to provide baseline data for the Elderly Nutrition Intervention Program for the Public Health Center. A survey questionnaire was made for use by trained interviewers to query 151elderly people from 5 community elderly centers located in Suwon, Korea. The majority of them ate regularly and partook of all available side dishes. Their major dietary problems were frequent consumptions of salty foods, and eating too quickly. They consumed grains and vegetables regularly, but seldomly ate dairy products, fruits, meat and food prepared with oil. They also tended to eschew ready made processed food, high cholesterol food, and fast food. Also they did not dine out as much as younger people. Desirable eating habit score were not significantly influenced by socioeconomic variables and nutrition-related characteristics. These included nutrition knowledge, Nutritional Risk Index(NRI) and a score of health concerns. However, meal balance scores were significantly higher in the younger group(p<.05), the higher household income group(p<.05). According to stepwise multiple regression analysis, NRI was the most important determinant of a desirable eating habit score for the male elderly, whereas the score of health concerns was mo9st important for female elderly subjects. The greatest predictor of the meal f balance score was nutrition knowledge. The elderly liked sweet tasting food, grains, rice, stews and Korean style soups. They disliked sour food, dairy products, processed food, and bread. The results indicate that the Elderly Nutrition Education Program should focus on increasing consumption of dairy products, fruits and food with oil, prepared by traditional Korean cooking methods. It also suggests that the program planning should consider the socioeconomic status of the elderly, such as income and education level, as well as concern for health.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2000

Populations both in the US and worldwide are aging. It is projected that by the year 2030 the population of Americans over 65 will increase to 70 million, more than twice their number in 1998. About one-third of elderly over the age of 65 have debilitating chronic health conditions that greatly impede their activities. Age-associated chronic diseases are believed to be associated with free radicals and the imbalance in antioxidant and oxidative stress contributes to development of several chronic health conditions. Diet and nutrients can have great impact in the health status of elderly. Several factors may contributor to the inadequate consumption of nutrients in elderly, including an inability to chew food adequately, polypharmacy, living along and limited income. Low intake of energy and several micronutrients are common among the elderly. Although overt deficiency of nutrients among the elderly is not common. a recent study showed that while elderly consume more fat, the total energy intake is low among the elderly. Inadequate intake of antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin E in elderly may contribute to the development of chronic health problems. Intake of higher than normal RDA levels of vitamin E for long periods of time has been shown to reduce the risk of many degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases(CVD) and cancer, and improve immune response in elderly. High intake of other antioxidants is also associated with reduced risk chronic diseases. Dietary antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables. However, due to variety of factors, the elderly may not be able to receive these and other micronutrients through diet. Therefore, supplemental intake of micronutrients in the form of multi vitamins/minerals and/or specific micronutrients is a more practical approach to the maintenance of health status in the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.615-628
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• 2004

This study is designed to examine influences of living arrangements on psycho-social factors, health and nutritional status, dietary adequacy and meal service utility patterns of the elderly. Nutritional status was evaluated by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Three hundred and nine elderly (110 men and 199 women) who participated in meal service in the Chung-buk province were investigated. Proportion of the elderly living alone, couples only, living with spouse and family, living with family without spouse; and living with other than family were 30.7%, 25.9%, 14.2%, 24.3% and 4.9% respectively. The mean age of the elderly was 74.1 years and the elderly who are living couples only and living with spouse and family were younger than those with other living status. Living arrangements seem to be related to psycho-social factors, health and nutritional status, and dietary quality. Those who live alone and live with other than family were mostly women and they have lower socio-economic status, psycho-social, health and nutritional status and dietary patterns compared with those of the elderly who are living with spouse or family. It was found that the elderly who live a couple only and live with spouse and family had better emotional, health and nutritional index than those of the elderly who live with family without spouse, especially in case of females. Most of elderly perceived that participation of meal service programs had a positive effect on their daily life and satisfied with meals. The elderly living alone and living with other than family were more frequently using meal service but had a negative attitude about the charged meal service for better quality than the elderly with other living status. The most important reason for all the elderly to participate in meal service was to meet their friends and then to get other services. Particularly those who are living alone and living with other than family showed lack of moivation to prepare and set the meal, and for them the economic reason is also important. They also replied that the poor health and lack of other help were the most difficult problems for them to prepare meals. It would be effective to provide nutritional services that meet specific needs of the elderly according to their characteristics and living environment.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.143-156
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• 2003

The present study was initially designed to figure out the general condition of care giving system for the elderly women who need long term care and the level of their depression according to the conditions of care. And This research is intented to present appropriate policy that could help the establishment of supporting system for the fragile elderly women.1 used the data from <2001 National Study on the Needs for the Long-Term Care Elderly> by Korea Health and Population Institute. The results are as follows: First, Two third of all the respondents had serious problems (2-9 activities limits) in Instrumental Daily Living Ability(DAL). Most respondents reported “low” in satisfaction level related to receiving care, meaning the elderly had negative perception for the care from the family. The elderly expected their children to be as the primary care giver and mostly wanted to live with them in the future. Second, The majority of the long term care elderly women haven't used community service facilities very often and said they are not likely going to use the facilities in the future. Third, The respondents reported high in depression level as to lower satisfaction with their children's support, poorer health condition, more reluctant to use service facilities due to the cost, and fewer friends and neighbors resources around them. Therefore I could say that negative factors for the elderly women's psychological health were having unsatisfactory relationship with intimate people, developing physical illness, being in economic difficulties. That is, receiving less help from close family members, shrinking social network, and experiencing economic hardship would have negative effects on elderly women's psychological health. In the basis of these results, I suggest that in the mean time we shouldn't overlook the importance of the private support when we develop the public elderly support system.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2020

It is expected that Korea will be entering with super aged society with its rapid changing to aging society compare to other developed countries. Such phenomenon is recognized from a long time ago and government has enacted Elderly Long Term Convalescence Insurance Regulation back in 1999. However, different from its actual purpose, there are many problems and improvements to be made, leading to legislative revision for several times. Still, it is left with many issues. This is one example showing there has been a continuous problem with elderly long term convalescence insurance system. Even this system in Germany which have started 4 years before us is to continuously revising regulation by raising issues to make strong structure for elderly welfare and long term convalescence, aiming to enhance life of elderly people by providing detailed standard for convalescence. Elderly related legal systematization may not enhance their welfare service or daily life right away. However, if details in regulation and its theory is systematically arranged, this will greatly reduce administrative confusion as well as increasing understanding and use of this system for the nation.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.183-205
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• 2000

This research was designed to compare the health condition and the quality of life of the elderly inpatients with those of the normal elderly people. The subjects of study were 482 elderly inpatients and 304 normal elderly people. The research was conducted in July and August using the instrument WHOQOL. The results of the research are as follows: For the level of health, it was recognized that male was healthier than female, having higher the education, living in the city rather than in the rural, keeping the normal life than being in the hospital. There were little difference in the past medical histories of the elderly inpatients and the normal elderly people. As to the diseases currently under the treatment, there were some difference between the elderly inpatients and the normal elderly people but the tendency was similar in the kinds and the frequencies. As to the recognition for the quality of life between the elderly inpatients and the normal elderly people based on the records reflected on each of the domains of WHOQOL, the normal elderly people more positively recognized in the overall quality of life and the following domains: physical, psychological, level of independence, and spirituality/religion/personal beliefs. The normal elderly people more positively recognized especially in the level of independence domain (mobility, activities of daily living, dependence on medication or treatments, working capacity). In the social relationships domain only the sexual activity was significant and the normal elderly people more positively recognized. The elderly inpatients showed the correlation of over 0.5 in the overall quality of life and the following domains: environment, social relationships, physical, psychological, level of independence. It was over 0.6 in the physical domain and the domains of psychological and level of independence. and the psychological domains of level of independence and social relationships. For the points of overall quality of life, it had no correlation with hospitalization but the health condition, residential district, occupation, and taste exerted a significant effect. As a result of separate analyses of the elderly inpatients and the normal elderly people, the health condition and the age only were the common variable which would exercise a significant effect. Besides, the primary factors which would exercise the quality of life were the occupation and taste for the elderly inpatients, and the residential district and source of income for the normal elderly people. In conclusion, it is first and foremost important to improve the standard of health for the overall quality of life for the elderly people, regardless of hospitalization. Therefore, a plan must be urgently drawn up for revitalization of the health promoting projects for the elderly people and the public health projects for the elderly people, and the investment must be increased for settlement of health problems of the elderly people.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.180-193
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to determine the meaning of the pain and experiences of elderly women with osteoarthritis, by adopting Colaizzi′s phenomenological method. The participants were 7 elderly women over the age of 65. They were selected using a theoretical sampling technique. The Data was collected by in-depth and open-ended interviews from Dec. 1. 1999. to Feb, 28. 2000. The length of the interviews varied from 120 minutes to 180 minutes. Data was recorded and analyzed by a constant comparative method. From the data, significant statements were extracted and then organized into 48 themes, which resulted in 15 clusters of themes and 6 categories. The final descriptions turned out to be valid through the interviewee′ validation process. Essential themes of the pain experiences emerged : "physical discomfortness(disturbances)", "negative state of mind", "influence of the death", "positive change in life", "Cause of pain perceived", and "change of their personal relationships". From these results, it was found that elderly women need nursing care based on a deep understanding of pain, and a reflection on their past is imperative to overcome their given situations. In conclusion, it is suggested that the care givers provide more support to solve the problems experienced by the elderly. Thus the researchers expect to provide understanding of older people and give basic data of holistic care for them.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.120-121
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• 2018

Recently, the population of the elderly in Korea has been rapidly increasing, and the medical problems related to the increase of the elderly population and the cognitive decline of the elderly are becoming big social issues. In this study, a task analysis is conducted to develop a cognitive rehabilitation program aimed at improving the IADL(instrumental activities of daily living) of the cognitively deprived elderly. Especially, we focused on analyzing financial management task with ATM use. The task analysis scenario developed through this study is the basis for the development of educational programs to improve the IADL of the cognitively deprived elderly.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.133-143
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• 2003

The main purpose of the study is to identify the perception, as well as the prejudices, of sexuality of the elderly and their sexual life. Older men and women aged 66-80 (N=17) who are married, healthy, and living in communities were interviewed regarding ADL, present and past sexual practices, prejudices on elderly sexuality, and obstacles to sexual life. The findings of this study are as follows: First, the old perceived that sexuality even in old age is an important part of life. However, they were also prejudiced about sexual intimacy in old age. Second, although an increase in age is correlated with a decrease in sexual activity, a number of older men and women continue to have active sexual life and they are satisfied with it as ever. This indicates a duality in the way the elderly perceive sexuality. Third, health status, partner's responsiveness, and environmental problems are prominent obstacles to sexual life. The study revealed that late-life sexuality must be conceived as a complex bio-psycho-social phenomenon. Consequently, it is important to hold sexual education programs for the young and the old.