• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.286-299
• /
• 2016

The increase of elderly population is inevitable a universal trend in developed countries. The Korea also followed this tendency. Especially the elderly population in Korea has been rapidly increasing since the 1990s. The rural population is aging more rapidly than the urban one because younger generations move into the urban area, due to better jobs and children education's opportunities. However, the majority of studies on population ageing are focused on the urban area rather than the rural ones. Rural areas also have been excluded as a priority of the national welfare policy for the elderly people. This paper tries to analyze the population ageing among regions and to identify the regional disparity between the elderly people and the level of public services in the rural area. Based upon these results, this study notes some policy alternatives for the improvement of quality of life of the rural elderly. It also suggests on the suitable location of public service facilities in the rural areas.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.1277-1293
• /
• 2009

This study examined the factors affecting the loneliness of elderly in urban-rural complex area in Busan including personnel factors, health factors, and social factors. To examine the factors affecting the loneliness, 138 older adults, who are 65 years and over, residing Ki Jang in Busan, were interviewed through trained researchers. This study's results include the following. First, the result indicated that means score of loneliness among respondents was 50.6(SD 4.2). Secondly the factors affecting on the loneliness of elderly in urban-rural complex area were life satisfaction of personnel factors, level of activity of daily living of health factors, and social support(emotional and instrumental support) and level of social activity of social factors. So perspective of service of elderly have to expend for diminution of emotional and interpersonal problems. And social welfare service is need to modify and amend for variety policies. This study suggest that further research need in order to reduce loneliness of elderly.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.341-346
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study was designed to provide basic data that would be helpful in planning mental health programs designed to help elderly people have a satisfying life as an elder by identifying the factors that affect cognition of urban and rural elderly people. Methods: Subjects included 160 elderly people on Daejeon and Geumsam. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection from march 2, 2011 to July 30, and descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis of SPSS 18.0 program were performed for data analysis. Results: A significant difference in cognition was observed between two groups(t=-2.232, p=.029). Cognition & depression didn't have correlation(urban area(r=.021, p=.860), rural area(r=.-131, p=.271)). Significant factors influencing cognition included education(t=4.069, p<.001) and age(t=-2.812, p=.001) in urban area and sex(t=-3.011, p<.001), age(t=-4.866, p<.001), education(t=3.525, p<.001) in rural area. These factors explained 26.1% and 57.2% of the variance. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest the need for development of appropriate nursing strategies depending on the difference of the environment to increase cognitive function and to decrease the incidence of depression in elderly people.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to describe a non-face-to-face dementia prevention and physical activity program in small rural villages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study used a case report provided by a primary healthcare post in Gyeonggi-do in 2020. Results: The program was "From head to toe, stay healthy", which was largely divided into dementia prevention ("Dementia Zero Zone") and physical activity ("The less fat, The healthier body"). Five elderly people aged 75 and over participated for preventing dementia, and 13 residents joined the health promoting programs over 80 times in total. This program was designed one-to-one customized and person-centered program, including counseling, education, and health services. The program participants responded that the amount of physical activities was increased even under strict social distancing and they felt less isolated and less depressed. Moreover, the number of screening for dementia was increased with this program. Conclusion: This case has shown the applicability of a new approach to sustain health promotion programs in the context of limited interaction with rural nurses. Under the challenging environment that requires adaptation to information and communication technologies (ICTs), it will be necessary to solve not only technical problems but also digital literacy issues of rural residents.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
• /
• v.20 no.10
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify suicidal ideation and related factors of elderly people with diabetes mellitus living alone in rural area. A descriptive study design was used. The participants were 466 elderly people, aged 65 years and over, and diagnosed with diabetes mellitus living at O province in South Korea. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, χ²-test, and logistic regression analysis with SPSS statistics 26.0 program. The results of the analysis showed that the suicidal ideation rate of the subjects was 27.3%, and the subjects showed significant differences in suicidal ideation as Cognitive function was lower (t=-4.23, p<.001), Depression(t=9.56, p<.001) and Loneliness (t=4.88, p<.001) were higher. Related Factors of suicidal ideation were Cognitive function (OR=0.86, p<.001), Depression (OR=1.18, p<.001) and Loneliness (OR=1.17, p=.001). These variables explained 32.2% of suicidal ideation. Therefore, in order to reduce suicide ideation of the elderly with diabetes mellitus living alone in rural areas, intervention that can improve Cognitive function, Depression, and Loneliness is needed.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a fall prevention program on gait ability, one leg standing-right, one leg standing-left, fear of falling, fall efficacy, and depression in the elderly. Methods: A fall prevention program was consisted of fall preventing exercise with laughter therapy. Quasi-experimental design with one group pre- and post-test was used. Twenty-two elderly were participated in this study from a community health center located in a rural area, South Korea. SPSS/WIN 18.0 was used for descriptive analysis and paired t-test. Results: After 12 weeks with a fall prevention program, gait ability (t=3.44, p=.002), one leg standing-right (t=-3.73, p=.001), one leg standing-left (t=-4.17, p<.001) and fear of falling (t=2.12, p=.046) in the elderly were significantly improved. Conclusion: A fall prevention program was effective on physical and psychological functions. This study suggested that control groups and a larger sample should be included in order to validate the effects of a fall prevention program for the elderly. Key Words: Elderly, Fall prevention program, Physical functions, Psychological

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.423-432
• /
• 2015

Objectives: In Korea, the percentage of elderly is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and is expected to account for 40% of the population by 2060. This massive demographic change stresses the importance of research on aging as it is necessary to improve the quality of life (QoL) of this population. This study aimed to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the rural elderly and to clarify its association with the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR). Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in S-gun, Chonbuk, a critical agricultural area. The elderly people without abnormal physical functioning composed our study population and the data were collected by personal visits to 336 elderly people aged over 65 years (110 males and 226 females). Subjects were interviewed with questionnaires pertaining to general characteristics and EuroQol (EQ-5D). Nutrient intakes were assessed two days by 24-hours recall method. Subjects were defined as high QOL group if EQ-5D index with Nam's model was above the median. Results: Generally, EQ-5D index was lower in women than in man, and lower in older subjects than in younger subjects. The percentages of people below the median were 42% (low QoL group) and 58% (high QoL group) were found to be the above the median. The high QoL group had higher NAR, especially for vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and folate. All dimensions in the EQ-5D were affected by NAR of some nutrients and especially anxiety/depression dimension was significantly correlated with NAR of 5 nutrients (protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin B1) and EQ-5D scores. Conclusions: HRQol was significantly reduced in elderly with increasing age and this was more pronounced in women than in man. The NAR of some nutrients were associated with the EQ-5D index, especially anxiety/depression dimension, among rural elderly.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.123-136
• /
• 2009

Sodium is a necessary element for the body. Excessive intake of sodium is known as one of the risk factors for chronic diseases. Recently, increasing numbers of people in Korea are suffering from chronic diseases. Major causes of deaths were chronic degenerative disease with the rising aging population. Especially, the population of rural areas is growing older fast. In rural areas, it is known that under nutrition and high sodium intake were major nutritional problems. For sodium intake, there were some studies about contributing food items. They were not enough to show diets relate to sodium intakes. Thus, this study analyzed dishes contributing to sodium intakes of elderly living in rural areas. Dietary intakes using "the 24hour recall method" were used. For the analysis for sodium intakes, "Can-pro3.0" was used. Ranking of dishes by contributions of sodium intakes were Korean cabbage, kimchi (19.6%), seasoned soybean paste (5.3%), soybean paste (4.6%), soybean paste soup dried radish leaves (3.5%), hot pork and kimchi stew (3.4%) in order. Ranking of dish groups by sodium intakes was kimchies (28.3%), soup and hot soups (22.8%), stews and casseroles (9.7%), seasonings (8.2%),and seasoned vegetables (6.0%) in order. One-dish meals among cooked rice, wheat noodles among noodle and mandu, soups using the soybean paste, stews using soybean paste and kimchi, salted fish among grilled foods, stir-fried anchovy among stir-fried foods, seasoned spinach, and Korean cabbage kimchi contributed to sodium intakes. As the nutrition deficiency of the elderly living in rural areas could be a problem, and excessive sodium intakes is threatening to their health, it is needed for the senior citizens to have adequate knowledge for diets containing less sodium. And recipes for healthy food and nutrition education based on their diets are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 2011

The housing environment of the weak class in rural area is inferior, the elderly ratio is high, and senior citizens whose living by themselves are increasing. This study was to analyze the actual conditions of utilization status, characterization of residency, management method of the federation of construction associate's love house and local government's case, and usage of the village hall. For better study, we reviewed the literatures and conducted field surveys. The purpose of this study is to suggest a development plan of rural community living homes. The results of this study were as follows; First, it is important for proper site of rural community living home plans to select adjacent location in the surrounding medical and welfare facilities(including community facilities). Second, the living space for one person does not need such a space; about $33m^2$ is suitable. Third, it is important to use surplus area to make kitchen garden in the site planning. Also the architectural plans must be considered to minimize the maintenance costs for the sustainability of the house and winter heating expense problem.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.128-135
• /
• 2014

Background: With ageing and growing importance of disease management system, it is necessary to investigate the extent of regional difference in service utilization for chronic diseases among the elderly and to reflect it in designing the system. Methods: A multiple regression analysis and descriptive statistics analyses were employed using patient survey, which covers nationwide health facilities and their users. Results: While the differences in the rate of service utilization/utilization outside living area between urban and rural areas or between income levels are not large, considerable variations are observed within urban or rural areas and within income groups. Conclusion: This results suggest that it is important to subsidize economically disadvantaged segments of the population and residents of less-favored areas to be better-equipped for chronic disease management in order to prevent the development of severe ailments and the need for treatment at higher-level medical institutions. Improvements to the service infrastructure in vulnerable regions are essential.