• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1665-1683
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to examine what the formation of a community incorporating two generations of people can give the elderly and the problems which are associated with establishing related programs of this kind. For this, the researcher enacted ethnographic method like as observant participation and in-depth interview on 24 participants. From this study, I found that the elderly and the children who took part in several programs to form the intergenerational linkages made the system meaningful in the following ways: first, the more harmonious the communication across between two age groups is, the more the understanding between them increases. Second, the sense of community has intensified the natural harmony. Third, the more self-satisfaction and confidence increases, the more self-efficacy is enhanced. Fourth, the purposeful and creative activities with peers have enabled the elderly to enjoy their leisure time. Fifth, the elderly have experienced the pleasure of learning and sharing common sense as a life-long learners. However, in the process of this program, several problems occurred such as the rigidly bureaucratic operation of the program and the elderly people's individual differences. In addition, the lack of a precisely-existing program necessary to form the intergenerational linkages and to bring together different generations was a problem. Finally, I have concluded that the effort to form the intergenerational linkages helps increase the understanding and cooperation across age groups and contributes to the successful aging of the elderly.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.589-612
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• 2019

Korea has undergone rapid modernization and globalization process in the last few decades. The purpose of this study is to explore how shifting traditional values are impacting Korean elderlies and their perceptions of aging experience. In order to understand how changing social and cultural practices are affecting older adults, the similarities and differences among Korean elderlies living in three different geographical locations are examined in a multidimensional comparative framework. Life story interviews were conducted with 30 Korean elderlies (10 urban residents in Korea, 10 rural residents in Korea, and 10 residents in the US). Paying attention to within-group variation, this study particularly focused on analyzing the psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual experiences that made lives meaningful and resilient in old age in spite of physical decline. Based on analysis of narrative, the following major areas were identified as having positive or negative influence on aging experiences: physical health, emotional health, family relationship, work, leisure/social activity, and spirituality. Common themes of aging well across all settings included: "life not indebted to their offspring," "physical and mental health," and "dying well." Spirituality played a critical role in cultivating perspectives on life and accepting aging process, which were rooted in specific religious traditions participants identified (e.g., Christianity or Buddhism). Interesting differences in the meaning of work and leisure were also found between elderlies residing in Korea and the US immigrant context. One unique factor continuing to negatively affect Korean elderly in rural community was related to shame of not obtaining higher education. Implications for future research are also addressed.

• 재활복지
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.187-207
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of defining concrete and abstract nouns for the elderly. A total of 382 elderly participated in this study and they were classified into four age groups (i.e., over 55 to under 64, over 65 to under 74, over 75 to under 84, and over 85 year-old group). They performed the word definition task, composed of five concrete and five abstract nouns. The total scores and numbers and ratio of core/supplementary meanings were compared among four elderly groups. The frequency and ratio of error types were also examined. The results showed that all four groups had statistically significant differences in total scores, numbers and ratio of core and supplementary meaning of concrete noun definition task. In addition, abstract noun definition performances revealed group differences except the two groups (over 75 to under 84 and over 85-year-old group). The oldest group showed a sharp increase in error production. The highest ratio of error types were personal experience in over 55 to under 64-year-old group, and over 65 to under 74 year-old groups; and for the target word repetition in over 75 to under 84 year-old group; and no response in over 85 year-old group. In conclusion, both concrete and abstract word defining abilities had age-related deterioration. This decline results from impairment in spreading semantic knowledge within semantic network, which is vulnerable to aging. Characteristics of word definition for elderly can provide basic information to understand various neurolinguistic disorders associated with age.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2022

In Korea, as the aging phenomenon accelerates, the problem of traffic accidents related to the elderly is continuously emerging. Efforts to improve this are being implemented, but unfortunately the results of these effects are not clear. Therefore, in this study, the effect of traffic characteristics and incentive policies on the return of driver's licenses of elderly drivers was reviewed. As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that the intention to return the driver's license was low in the case of men, older people, those with low dependence on public transportation, those who undertook long driving hours, and those who took frequent trips. On the other hand, financial incentives were found to play a positive role with regard to the intention to return the driver's license. However, the effect is expected to be insignificant for those with a low intention to return the driver's license. As a result, under the current policy, it is predicted that there is a limit to improving the social problems caused by elderly drivers, meaning that it is necessary to review approaches that induce the return of their driver's licenses.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 2021

This study aimed to understand the meaning and essence of the experience of bodily change in young-old adults. van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological method was utilized. Study participants were 11 elderly who 65 to 74 residing in J city. Data were collected from in-depth individual interviews with the participants from July to September 2016. The essential themes were identified regarding the experience of bodily change in young-old adults: 'self-pity about perceived aging', 'myself projected onto others', 'wants to hold on passing of the time', and 'priority on wellbeing than appearance'. The present findings can be used as important basic data for the development of nursing interventions and improving quality of life for young-old adults.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.595-615
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• 2015

This study aims to develop well-being enhancement program for the female elderly living alone, and examine its effects. The program was structured by exploring the meaning of life and happiness with focused on self-disclosure, dealing with regret and resentment, forgiveness, gratitude, and resilience. At first, pilot program was applied to 6 female elderly living alone for predicting the effects and modified the program. For verification of the program effect, 11 female elderly living alone were assigned to developed well-being enhancement program, also 11 female elderly living alone were assigned to comparison group who participate in activity-focused program, and 12 female elderly living alone were assigned to control group. Results indicated that regret for interpersonal relations and resentment of the female elderly living alone who participate in well-being enhancement program were reduced after participating the program, while their self-disclosure increased. The female elderly living alone who participate in well-being enhancement program showed lowered level of anxiety, loneliness, and awareness of aging, which were factors of well-bing in senescence. Moreover, their level of negative emotion was decreased, and life satisfaction, positive emotion, and happiness were increased after participating the program. But, all of those enhancement were not found in control group as well as comparison group. These results suggest that well-being enhancement program for the female elderly living alone developed in this study could be utilized in various settings.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1409-1427
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to understand volunteer work experiences of senior citizen volunteers serving in the welfare center in K district in the aspect of an insider and to apprehend the meaning. The objects of this study are fifteen senior citizen volunteers and two social workers who do volunteer works in the welfare center, and this study utilized the qualitative study method through observations and in-depth interviews from 2009.09.02 to 2009.10.21. The data analysis is processed by the qualitative analysis program, Nvivo 2.0, and the processed data are analyzed in accordance with the grounded theories of Strauss and Corbin. As a result of reviewing data, the meanings about volunteer work experiences of senior citizens are induced as eight factors; senior citizens' identity in an old aging society, desire fulfillment through volunteer works by senior citizens, various leisure activities to help their health in mind and body, acceptance attitude about aging, mental supports from their families, finding activities suitable for each person's personality and capability, changes of perception about the handicapped, and endeavors to spend meaningful old age. Through results and discussion obtained by this study, the conclusion is as below: First, participation induction factors are identities of elderly people in aging society, acceptance attitudes toward aging and emotional support from families in the matter of senior citizens' volunteer work. Second, programs suitable for individual aptitude and capability should be implemented for activating senior citizens' volunteer work. Third, participation in senior citizens' volunteer work indicates desire satisfaction through senior citizens' volunteer work, leisure activities helping health for body and mind, and life changes such as changes of perception about handicapped people etc.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.563-578
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• 2009

Public pension system of western welfare states has been maintained by transfers of public resources between working-age population and old-age population. But population aging cause the problem of fiscal burden on pension financing, so cutback on public spending for the elderly has been on the issue at public agenda. The argument on public spending for the elderly is more aggressively proceeded in the United States than any other welfare states. The argument is concerned with the problems of generation and is going under the rhetoric name of 'Generational Equity' which contends unequal distribution of social resources such as federal budget within generations. This article analyzes the background of 'Generational Equity' perspective and the reason why that argument is actively going forward in the U. S. and political-economy context of that argument. Generational Equity perspective contends that the elderly are getting more benefits and high spending on the elderly has contributing to the rising poverty rate of children. But there are lots of objection to this perspective on the ground that the perspective has weak positive evidences. The reason that 'Generational Equity' perspective has the power only in the U. S. but other welfare states is mainly due to that pluralistic political regime and selective welfare system. This research presents that political-economy meaning of 'Generational Equity' perspective is related to the political regime and welfare system of the society itself. And this research has the implication that our society having a selective welfare system would take a risk of encountering 'Generational Equity' social debate in the near future.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.808-823
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• 2021

This study was conducted to explore the experience and its meaning of the elderly residents in long-term care facilities(LTCFs). It is aimed to find the role of family and society for the qualitative care of elderly living in LTCF and to seek social welfare measures. For this purpose, qualitative research data was collected by conducting in-depth interviews and participation observations on 8 elderly residents at 4 LTCFs in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province. The collected data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological research method. The analysis results show that 33 semantic units, 14 subcomponents, and 4 upper components. The 4 upper components showed up as 「Crumbling my existence」, 「The life thrown into an unfamiliar environment」, 「New relationship where discomfort and gratitude coexist」 and 「My life I want to find」. Among them, 「My life I want to find」 was the essence of the living experiences of elderly residents in LTCF. Through this study, it was suggested creating an environment to provide facilities access preparation program for the elderly, developing and activating various family participation programs, providing conditions of Aging in place for the elderly, and developing and activating community resource linkage programs.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.159-184
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• 1988

Race and ethnicity are important factors which influence the elderIy's residential adjustment behaviors, although it is unclear whether this reflects influences unrelated to race and ethnlcity. Culturally, the norm of family supportoften obseved among various minority ethnic groups is likely to provide flexible family suppof for the elderIy. Economically, the life-long hardship ofminority groups is likely to force them to maintain extended family living arrangements simply to reduce expenses via economies of scale. Thecontroversy about the economic need versus the cultural prescription forextended living arrangements remains unresoIved because it fails to articulatethe meaning of family supports among many disadvantaged groups.This study aims to test previous economic and cultural arguments, byexamining ethnic differences iu the eiderIy's responsiveness to their health andeconomic problems. Two hypotheses about cultural influences on the elderly's resideutiai adjustment are examined. First, do elderly minorities receive famiiysupporis for longer periods when they are poor if economic and health status\ulcorner Second, do elderiy minorities receive family supports more often when their health status declines\ulcorner Using the Longitudinal Suvey on Aging from 1984 to 1990. this study employs Markovian multi-state life tables, and discrete and contonuous competing hazard analyses for the transition in living arrangements. The main results provide substantial evidence against the cultural resource thesis. Elderly minorities experience more frequent transition between living alone and living with relatives than white elderly persons when group differences in the extent of mortality and insititutionalization are controlled. The shorter timf of living alone among elderly monorities stems from their greater likehood of joining relatives as well as greater mortality and attrition rates than elderly whites. Coresidence of elderly whites with their relatives is more likely to occur in response to their needs for health care than of elderly whites. it implies that instability. not flezibility. characterrizes elderly minorities living arrangements.