• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.208-213
• /
• 2024

Depression is one of the greatest health concerns in the world. Symptoms include emotion disorders, loss of appetite, reduction in interest, and insomnia. The prevalence of depression is increasing rapidly around the world and in South Korea. Elderly people are vulnerable to depression, resulting in serious socioeconomic problems. Depression in the elderly can cause sleep disorders, cognitive impairment, memory impairment, and many other diseases. Additionally, depression can cause frailty, which is associated with increased falls, chronic diseases, and mortality. Therefore, this study empirically analyzed sleep disorders in relation to depression, the link between exercise and the hippocampus in mitigating depression, and physical activity and exercise in the management of depression for successful aging.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.61-73
• /
• 2019

Urban development and densification have led to the Urban Heat Island Effect, in which the temperature of urban space is higher than the surrounding areas, and the intensity is increasing with climate change. In addition, when the city's air temperature rises in summer, low-income, elderly population, and socially vulnerable people who have health problems lack the ability to cope with the elevated heat environment. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the urban heat island area of Seoul through Hotspot analysis, which is a spatial statistics technique, and explored physical environments, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of urban heat island effect areas using logistic regression models. This study performed urban heat island hotspot analysis using the average air temperatures of the 423 administrative dongs in Seoul. Analysis results identified that the urban heat islands were concentrated in Jung-gu, Jongno-gu, Yongsan-gu, and Yeongdeungpo-gu. Logistic regression analysis results indicated that urban heat island areas of Seoul were affected by residential floor area ratio, commercial facility floor area ratio, overall floor area ratio, impervious surface ratio, and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI). In addition, as a result of analyzing the vulnerable area of thermal environment considering the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the heat island area, urban heat island areas of Seoul were significantly associated with the proportion of low-income elderly living alone. The result of this study provided useful insights for urban thermal environmental design and policy development that could improve the thermal environment for the socially disadvantaged urban population.

• Land and Housing Review
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2022

In 1991, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) declared "tourism accessible for all" recommending the practice of the right to enjoy tourism. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea (2019), the disabled, who are the most vulnerable in tourism, accounted for 5.1% of the total population, and the number of the elderly over 65 is expected to increase to 20.3% by 2025. In particular, the need for customized policies has been raised as the proportion of disabled people among the elderly aged 65 and over continues to increase. Thus, this study identified the spatial characteristics of Universal Design (UD) tourist destinations considering the tourism vulnerable groups. Administrative units (425 dongs) in Seoul were used as spatial units for analysis. As a research method, first, a spatial model was specified through LM verification, and then spatial regression analysis was performed. As a result of the analysis, the spatial characteristics of UD tourist destinations were found to have positive (+) effects on the number of universally certified businesses, the number of restaurants, and the number of bus stops that were available to the vulnerable. It was confirmed that there are a large number of universal certified businesses, restaurants, and bus stops in dongs with UD tourist destinations. The findings will provide policy implications when promoting the right to enjoy tourism in the future and improving Korean universal design quality.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.4656-4667
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate relations among the quality of life, health states, physical functions, cognitive functions, and social supports of the elderly at care facilities. The subjects include the elderly that were living in care facilities in some urban areas and aged 65 or older. The data of total 260 old people were used in analysis. Collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. The elderly at care facilities, who were considered as physically and cognitive vulnerable, scored higher means on quality of life when they were satisfied with the length of stay and sleeping state, had higher subjective health states, had no tooth inconvenience and forgetfulness, suffered from a lower level of depression, had better cognitive functions, and received higher social supports. Quality of life had correlations with the sleeping state(r=-.20, p<.001), subjective health state(r=-.24, p<.001)s, depression(r=-.30, p<.001), and social supports(r=.30, p<.001). Social supports(${\beta}=.30$, p<.001), depression(${\beta}=-.25$, p<.001), subjective health states(${\beta}=-.22$, p<.001), length of stay(${\beta}=-.22$, p<.001), and sleeping state(${\beta}=-.12$, p=.025) turned out to predict the quality of life of the elderly at care facilities and have close relations with it. In short, the quality of life of the elderly is related to many different factors at care facilities. The findings indicate that nursing interventions and managements for quality of life require a mental and social approach or a whole person approach with a focus on the understanding of individual senior citizens rather than on physical activities and diseases.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.307-323
• /
• 1990

This Study was done to design and test an instrument to measure the health status of the elderly including physical, psychologyical and social dimensions. Data collection was done from July 18 to August 17, 1990. Subjects were 412 older persons in Korea. A convenience sample was used but the place of residence was stratified into large, medium and small city and rural areas. Participants located in Sudaemun-Gu, Mapo-Gu, and Kangnam-Gu, Seoul were interviewed by brained nursing students, and those in Chungju, Jonju, Chuncheon, and Jinju by professors of nursing colleges. Rural residents were interviewed by community health practioners working in Kungsang-Buk-Do, Kyngsang- Nam - Bo, Jonla Buk -Do, and Kyung Ki- Do. The tool developed for this study was a structured questionnaire based on previous literature and then tested for reliability and validity. This tool contained 20 physical health status items, 17 mental-emotional health status items and 38 social health status items. Physical health status items clustered in to six factors such as personal hygiene, activity, home management, digestive, sexual, sensory, and climination functions. Mental-emotional health status items clustered into two factors, mental health and emotional health. Social health status items clustered into seven factors, grandparent, parent, spouse, friend, kinships, group member and religious role functions. Data analysis included percentage, average, S.D., t-test and ANOVA. The results of the analysis were as follows : 1. The tool measuring the health status of the elderly and developed for this research had a relatively high reliavility indicated by a cronbach＝0.97793. 2. Average score of the subjects physical health status was 4, 054 in a 5 point likert scale, mentalemotional health status was 3.803, social health status was 2.939 and the total average was 3.521. The social status of the subjects was the lowest and the next was mental-emotional health status ; physical health status was the highest. 3. Educational background, perceived health status, the amount of pocket money were related to physical and mental-emotional health status and family structure was related mental-emotional physical and social health status. Occupation was related to physical and mental-emotional status. Area of residence was related to metal-emotional and social status. Source of living in the expeneses was related to physical and mental-emotional health status marital status to mental-emotional and social health status, and the number living in the home physical health status and religion to social health status. The following conciusions were derived from the above results ; 1. The health status of Korean elderly was relatively sound but social health status was the most vulnerable. The Social activity for Korean elderly is needed to improve social health. 2. Educational background, perceived health status and the amount of pocket money must be considered in the health assessment criteria of the elderly, Family structure, marial status, occupation, residence variables and sources of living expense must also be considered as significant. 3. A health education program based on the educational background of the elderly, and provision of an occupational socioeconomic welfare policy will be useful in order to increase social health status of Korean elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.455-469
• /
• 2008

Statement of problems: In the area of dental care, the institutionalized elderly have placed the most vulnerable state, and we cannot find their subjective need of dental treatment because of the physical and mental disabilities, But we have no basic investigation of their oral health conditions. Purpose: The aims of the current study were to investigate the oral health status of institutionalized elderly patients who are in the least benefited side of dental service, and to analyze their dental treatment needs. Material and methods: The survey of the oral status was carried out on 758 institutionalized elderly, and 212 elderly who was more than 65 years old from D dental office, and it was based on the Guidelines of Oral Health Research of year 2000 in Republic of Korea. Results and conclusion: The DMFT index of the institutionalized elderly appeared higher than that of the same ages in control group, and it increased with age. The number of residual teeth of the institutionalized elderly appeared lower than that of the same ages in control group, and it decreased with age (P < .05). The number of fixed partial denture in institutionalized elderly was lower than that of the same ages in control group (P < .05). The percentage wearing removable partial denture was not significant between the elderly in institutions and the control group, and was not different according to age between the two groups. The percentage of institutionalized elderly wearing complete denture appeared lower than that of the same ages in control group, and it increased with age. The percentage of institutionalized elderly needing complete denture was higher than that of control group, and the percentage of elderly needing complete denture on the maxilla was higher than that of the mandible. 16.35% of the institutionalized elderly was living without denture in spite of their fully edentulous state. The need for complete denture increased rapidly with age. The number of valued teeth and dental prostheses in shortened dental arch concept and number of occluding pairs of teeth of institutionalized elderly were lower than that of the control group (P < .05). In institutionalized elderly, the number of residual teeth, the number of fixed partial dentures, and the percentage wearing removable partial dentures were higher in the mandible, and the percentage wearing complete dentures was higher in the maxilla (P < .05). The rate of institutionalized elderly needing prosthodontic treatment appeared to be 67.82%, where the number of occluding pairs of teeth was less than 10. When it is difficult to evaluate the subjective need of dental treatment as with the institutionalized elderly, estimation using the number of occluding pairs of teeth can be a useful indicator that can project treatment needs. For the oral health care of institutionalized elderly, it is essential to increase the awareness of nurses and caregivers who take care of them, about the importance of the oral health. Since the average life span and number of residual teeth are increasing gradually, the welfare policy should be changed to implementing regular dental examinations, preservative treatment forms and oral health control of dentulous patients where the traveling-treatment system and visit system are supplemented. And principles should be set that the present denture project of edentulous patients should be done by specialists who'll also be responsible for postmanagement. Through this research of institutionalized elderly, the oral health status which is worsened by aging could be confirmed. And the interest and positive participation of dental society on the elderly should come first in order to solve the rising treatment needs of the elderly patients.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2021

Background: The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationships musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability in terms of age, gender, and employment status Methods: The fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) in 2010 (43,816 participants aged 15 years and over) analyzed for European employees and the third Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in 2011 (50,032 participants aged 15 years and older) analyzed for Korean employees. In this study, three well known vulnerable factors to musculoskeletal pains (older age, female gender, and precarious employment status) were combined and defined as combined vulnerability. Associations of musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability were assessed with prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by Poisson regression models with robust estimates of variance. Results: The prevalences of musculoskeletal pains were lower but the absolute and relative differences between combined vulnerabilities were higher among Korean employees compared with the European employees. Furthermore, the increased risk of having musculoskeletal pains according to combined vulnerability was modestly explained by socioeconomic factors and exposure to ergonomic risk factors, especially in Republic of Korea. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the labor market may be more unfavorable for female and elderly workers in Republic of Korea. Any prevention strategies to ward off musculoskeletal pains, therefore, should be found and implemented to mitigate or buffer against the most vulnerable work population, older, female, and precarious employment status, in Republic of Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2024

Despite the continuous efforts to mitigate pedestrian accidents at crosswalks, the problem persist. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and disabled individuals are at a risk of being involved in traffic incidents. This paper proposes the implementation of object detection algorithm using the YOLO v5 model specifically for pedestrians using assistive devices like wheelchairs and crutches. For this research, data was collected and utilized through image crawling, Roboflow, and Mobility Aids datasets, which comprise of wheelchair users, crutch users, and pedestrians. Data augmentation techniques were applied to improve the model's generalization performance. Additionally, ensemble techniques were utilized to mitigate type 2 errors, resulting in 96% recall rate. This demonstrates that employing ensemble methods with a single YOLO model to target transportation-disadvantaged individuals can yield accurate detection performance without overlooking crucial objects.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.161-173
• /
• 2015

The guarantee of transportation for elderly and handicapped people is increasingly necessary owing to their growing social and economic activity. In March of 2013, a partial amendment to the law for transportation of the vulnerable was made by the government, to make more convenient transport a legal requirement. The amendment describes standards for the installation of transport facilities, and its support available. However, the adjustment of low-floor bus routes is not included. Therefore, low-floor buses are operating without consideration for the handicapped. This study evaluates the current low-floor bus system user experience by considering the residential distribution of vulnerable customers and analyzing their reasons for using public transport. As a result of this work, adjustments to current bus routes are proposed. The residential distribution of vulnerable people has been assessed using the supporting materials of the urban renewal project in Busan City, and their reasons for using public transport have been collected by a survey of the target user groups. The results show that group A, which has good accessibility, was in high demand, but provided the most limited service. Whereas group C, which also has good accessibility but was in low demand, provided its service most frequently. The data show the supply and demand inconsistencies of low-floor buses, and the inefficiency of bus route allocation. Therefore, this study proposes improvements to current methods for the effective operation of low-floor buses.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.893-907
• /
• 2017

This study aimed to investigate factors affecting frailty by urinary incontinence groups among the vulnerable elderly woman in Korea. In this secondary analysis, data were collected from records for 3,251 elders registered in the Visiting Health Management program of Public Health Centers in 2012. body mass index, waist circumference, timed up & go, depression, self rated helath, walking exercise, flexibility exercise, strengh exercise and frailty were assessed. Data were analyzed using $x^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and stepwise regression to determine the associated factors of frailty by urinary incontinence. Depression, walking exercise, timed up & go and age were found to be factors significantly associated with frailty among the elders with incontinence(F=38.321, p<.001). Age, depression, walking exercise, self rated health and tined up & go were found to be factors associated with frailty in the elders without incontinence(F=265.666 p<.001). The findings show that frailty of elders and associated factors were different by urinary incontinence, and common factors affecting frailty were depression, walking exercise, timed up & go, age. Thus, these factors should be considered in the development of intervention program for care and prevention of frailty and program should be modified according to urinary incontinence.