• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.259-271
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• 2017

The present study was designed to examine the impact of socioeconomic, health-related, and health behavioral factors on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the Korean elderly by gender. The subjects comprised 688 men and 898 women aged 65 or more who had participated in the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014. The associations of factors with the HRQoL as measured with the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Index were examined in a general linear model. The most influential factor on the HRQoL was depression in both men and women. The perceived health status and walking activity were also associated with the HRQoL in both men and women. The living arrangement and educational status were associated with the HRQoL in women, while the body mass index was associated with the HRQOL in men. Depression management and the promotion of walking activity are essential to the HRQoL of the Korean elderly. Particular attention must be paid to the HRQoL of older women who live alone and have a lower level of education.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.623-633
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• 2018

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of how the presence or absence of a partner affects the life characteristics of persons aged 65 or older. For this, the subjects were divided into the married group and the single group to investigate sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, self-rated health level, disease morbidity, limitations in life due to health conditions and health-related quality of life. An assessment was carried out by analyzing local communities' health survey data of 3 years from 2014 to 2016. The results revealed that the single group had more women, a lower household income, poorer health conditions, and a higher chronic disease morbidity rate than the married group, and thus their self-rated heath level was lower as well. These characteristics were found to contribute to a lower quality of life in the single group than the married group. To this day, we have viewed the elderly as one of the groups based on age and only tried to identify their average characteristics, thus overlooking their various inherent problems. The results of this study suggest that physical, emotional and social problems seen among the elderly need a comprehensive measure. In addition, this study found that public health approaches and social welfare systems should be improved to develop personalized support programs for the elderly.

• Journal of Advanced Technology Convergence
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.17-27
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• 2024

This study focuses on the development and evaluation of a chatbot system based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework to enhance community participation among elderly individuals with mild dementia in South Korea. The study involved 12 elderly participants who were living alone and had been diagnosed with mild dementia, along with 15 caregivers who were actively involved in their daily care. The development process included a comprehensive needs assessment, system design, content creation, natural language processing using Transformer Attention Algorithm, and usability testing. The chatbot is designed to offer personalized activity recommendations, reminders, and information that support physical, social, and cognitive engagement. Usability testing revealed high levels of user satisfaction and perceived usefulness, with significant improvements in community activities and social interactions. Quantitative analysis showed a 92% increase in weekly community activities and an 84% increase in social interactions. Qualitative feedback highlighted the chatbot's user-friendly interface, relevance of suggested activities, and its role in reducing caregiver burden. The study demonstrates that an ICF-based chatbot system can effectively promote community participation and improve the quality of life for elderly individuals with mild dementia. Future research should focus on refining the system and evaluating its long-term impact.

• Studies on Life and Culture
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• v.52
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• pp.201-223
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• 2019

This study is about a life history of a male recovered alcohol addict. The purpose of this study was to understand the cause of addiction of alcoholics in the life of male alcoholics, Find out the factors that affect the cause, and aims to understand alcohol-recovery experience. This study included male alcohol addicts recovering for more than 10 years. this study based on life-history analysis framework suggested by Mandelbaum(1973) on life history and divides the study points into 'dimension of life,' 'turning point' and 'adaptation . The results of this study are as follows: first, 'dimension of life' of the study participant was divided into several sectors for the analysis including'the day my father failed', 'a young day like a castle bulit on sand', 'the married life was locked up liquor bottle', 'the dead end, a life left alone . The 'turning point' was revealed as 'attempted suicide, and a desire for desirable life', 'a rope came down from the sky, the basic living security patment', 'open a new door, go into the welfare center . The 'adaptation' was derived from the 'loneliness chosen to escape from addiction', 'fill empty time and space', 'overcoming with fairy godmother . Based on these results, this study presents iscussions on social welfare practices and policies.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.88-96
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• 2020

The rate of admission to facilities for people with developmental disabilities in Korea is very high for other types of disabilities. Therefore, 'community care', which supports life in the community for people with developmental disabilities, is very important compared to other types of disabilities. However, in Korea, families with disabilities are the problem of care and are appealing for the burden of support. This study analyzed practical cases through welfare institutional visits and interviews on support for community independence in Japan. As a result of the study, the transition of people with developmental disabilities to communities in Japan was centered on group home. The private sector is providing support for people with severe disabilities in group home to live in communities, and Sapporo City Hall is conducting private connections to solve the problem of caring for the developmentally disabled elderly parents. Accordingly, as Korean policy recommendations, it is proposed to expand group home, switch functions of living facilities for the disabled, cope with the problem of caring for the disabled by elderly parents, and provide preventive services through surveys on the actual condition of adults living alone. As practical suggestions, it is necessary to develop and distribute educational textbooks such as pictures to improve daily life skills for self-reliance, expand sufficient manpower and facilities in vocational training for self-reliance, and operate shelters for adults with developmental disabilities and their guardians.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.185-193
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• 2012

This study conducted surveys of 88 eldery people over 100 years in Gyeongnam on April to June, 2011 during 90 days. It was intended to find the factors of longevity, Activity Daily of Living (ADL), and Instrumental Activity Daily of Living (IADL). Major results of this study were as follows: The factors of longevity are getting enough sleep over than seven hours(95.5%), taking in less salty food (69.8%), optimism without even thinking about suicide (86.9%), nonsmoking habit (92%), and moderation in drink (86.4%). The most difficult part of Activity Daily of Living (ADL) is taking a bath, and that of Instrumental Activity Daily of Living (IADL) is taking a bus or subway alone. All items of ADL and IADL, female was higher than the male, but not statistically significant(p<0.05). Therefore, further study is expected to develop the supplementary policy to support the elderly people with declining to carry out physical activities. It is also expected to develop the public welfare programs and policies for the aged, allowing them to take responsibility and to participate as a member of the society.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2005

The present study is designed to provide basic data for the future health promotion projects to be aimed at improving quality of life for the elderly people in the increasingly aging society of Korea by investigating factors related to the yangseng of old people in rural areas. The results of this study are intended to serve as fundamental for efficient approach toward health promotion projects for the elderly in rural communities. For this purpose, a survey by questionnaires was conducted to rural inhabitants from May to June 2004. The replies were analyzed from the perspective of Oriental medicine for yangseng. 1. The average points of health care appeared to be 3.24. In details by sub-areas, morality was 3.79, followed by 3.74 for activities and rest, 3.73 for sleeping, 3.29 for diet, 3.25 for mind, 2.88 for season, 2.12 for exercise and 1.95 for sexual life in sequence, showing that the yangseng of morality was scored highest while the area of sexual life were rated lowest. 2. As for the extent of health care depending on the characters of the subjects, spoused ones, married couples living alone, while the higher educated and the more leisure is utilized, the more the care is paid for yangseng. 3. Concerning the extent of yangseng depending on the general characters of the subjects, men showed more yangseng in activities and rest. The group aged 70 to 74 acquired the highest points in mind yangseng. The group with spouse featured higher concern for yangseng in the categories of morality, diet, activities and rest, sleeping and sexual life. Married couples who are living with no other family members recorded the highest points in the areas of morality, diet, sleeping and sexual life(P<0.05). 4. In terms of socioeconomic characters, the more one is educated, the more he/she is tended to take yangseng in the exercise, sleeping and sexual life. The group with occupation is inclined to take more yangseng in the activities and rest and sleeping. When people have to work for their keep, they usually showed to have highest yangseng for sleeping. People who enjoy leisure showed higher yangseng in all areas except for morality. In case man has religion, he showed more yangseng in the activities and rest, exercise and sleeping(P<0.05). 5. Those who reply they are confident with health showed higher yangseng. No significant difference was found in all areas except for sexual life in which high care is taken for yangseng, as far as one has no disease. Those who are confident with health had highest yangseng in all areas except for season yangseng(P<0.05). As seen above, extents of yangseng by the old people in the rural area are found to have difference depending on the individual and socioeconomic characters, factors which should be seriously considered in the local health promotion projects and projects for the health of the elderly. Particularly important is to launch health promotion programs and to analyze their effects to promote health care particularly in the areas of sexual life, exercise and season yangseng that turned out to be lowest by taking into account of yangseng in each sub-area.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.601-616
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• 2017

Elderly suicide is a major public health issue in South Korea. The aim of this study was to systematically examine the current knowledge about suicidal ideation among Korean older adults with specific focus on risk and preventive factors. In order to achieve this aim, a meta-analysis was conducted using Korean academic peer-reviewed journals published since 2001. A total of 97 articles were selected that met the research criteria (e.g., original study findings and key words of suicidal ideation, suicidal thought, and suicide). Three domains were identified and used for further analysis: individual, family, and society. Results showed that among individual factors, depression and burden or stress increased the risk of suicidal ideation, while better mental health reduced the risk of suicidal ideation. Among family factors, living alone was a risk factor for suicidal ideation, while family cohesion was a preventive factor for suicidal ideation. Among social factors, elderly discrimination, social isolation, and negative relationships were significant risk factors, while social support, social environment, and social activities were significant preventive factors affecting suicidal ideation. The results suggest several practical implications for developing suicide prevention programs and counseling approaches to address suicidal ideation. For example, depression and stress can be reduced by MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) program where meditation is used as a coping strategy. In addition, counseling programs specifically focused on improving family and social relations should be implemented. Government should continuously support for these programs to prevent suicide among older Koreans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.455-463
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• 1996

A survey was conducted to investigate the perceptions of health and foods, and the food habits among the elderly men who came to the Tap-Gol park on a daily basis. A total of 253 subjects were selected for this study. The data was analyzed through the $X^2-test$, Duncan's multiple range test and Pearson Correlation by the use of SAS program. The results were as follows. The majority of the subjects were in their 70's. 56.1% of them lived with their sons' families, 9.1% lived alone, and 27.3% lived with a spouse. 32% of the subjects were living with the expense less than 50,000 won per month. Although some were suffering from such diseases as arthritis, indigestion, and hypertension etc., the subjects were generally in good health. Their dependance on dietary supplements were insignificant. Most of the subject had a common-sensible notion as to health. They put emphasis on the three factors for the maintenance of good health: a balanced diet, a peace of mind and exercising. With regard to the food habits, the majority were fair in general. The subject living with family had more regular meals than the single people did. 41.5% of the subjects responded that they had irregular meals, mainly for lunch due to a poor appetite or a financial problem. The respondents cited protein food, milk, fruit, sea weeds and food cooked with oil as conducive to good health. But what they consumed did not match what they thought was good, particularly milk. The results of this study lead to the suggestion that Korea need to develop such a lunch program for the elderly as is practiced in the U.S., through which dietary motivation can be stimulated and a low-priced and balanced diet offered at least for one meal a day.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.19-29
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to clarify the spatial changes that have taken place in the main rooms (Anbang) and kitchens of traditional Utbangkkeokeum houses in Cheongju city, located on the central inland of Korea. These houses consist of a main house (Momchae) and a single-wing house (Nalgaechae), creating an ㄱ-shaped plan. The kitchen is in the front of the Nalgaechae, and the Anbang is at the rear. For the Momchae, the main hall (Daechung) is next to the Anbang, which is at the end of the Nalgaechae, and the room (Gunnunbang) is situated across from the Daechung. This study is based on the assumption that these houses have been conserved and altered from their original forms. As a result of alterations, many changes have occurred to the main room and kitchen spaces. The traditional main room is connected with two rooms (Utbang and Araebang), new standup kitchens are introduced, and floor heating systems are installed. The Anbang has maintained its sedentary lifestyle and the space for major daily activities such as sleeping and TV viewing. Also, TV viewing is a distinctive feature for residential purposes and the bedding is located in such a position that it is easy to observe any exterior movement for the elderly living alone. The layout of the standup kitchen has been altered to maintain the previous circulation, position and function of the entrance. Also, the kitchen and dining room were used together, and the size of these rooms has been partially increased from the original module in different ways for each case. The above findings suggest that Utbangkkeokeum houses of Cheongju city have been spatially changed while maintaining the previous lifestyle.