• KIEAE Journal
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.81-89
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• 2010

This study focuses on a concrete understanding of the characteristics of perceptions and needs about healthy housing of the elderly, who represent the most vulnerable group of people in society, on the four evaluation dimensions of healthy housing as part of the research for evaluation indicators development for housing health performance in apartments. First, it was found that the elderly perceive an environment where their physical health is well supported as the most important factor for healthy housing. Additionally, the management support of the housing was perceived as the second most important consideration. Second, the most frequently used area for the elderly is the living room and a desired place to be added to indoor spaces was a room of their own or a 'living room', which clearly indicates the importance of the indoor environment for the elderly. Third, the biggest factor for the interior environment that affected the satisfaction level of the elderly in their housing was largely based on the convenience factor that helped lesson the discomfort in their daily life due to the physical aging process, and also on factors related to the pleasant indoor surroundings. Based on the concepts discovered in this study on healthy housing, more concrete items should be developed in the future for an extensive indicator for health performance evaluation, and actual research on the general public should follow suit.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.156-164
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• 2018

This study analyzed the characteristics of Physical Environment of existing free shuttle bus Interior centered on elderly people who frequently use free shuttle buses. The purpose of this study is to provide basic data that can be used for improvement of existing free shuttle buses. In the case of the old type, in terms of accessible design, the middle entrance is not normally opened except the wheelchair occupant, so that the entrance of the front wheel is always used. Therefore, most elderly people go to the back seat and travel distance is twice longer. In addition, many stairs caused frequent inconveniences for boarding. In the case of the new type, it is planned to be a low-floor type, and various types of safety rods and handles, pictograms for enhancing the information convenience are well-equipped, and the measured value of the overall design characteristic is high. However, in the case of mental stability, it was confirmed that the seat of the bus is colored with a cold color system and is in a different relationship with the warm color which can feel mental stability. Overall, both old and new shuttle buses lack audiovisual feedback on bus routes and route guidance in terms of Supportive design. Also, since the cleaning tools and other miscellaneous items were left in the room, it became an obstacle to space utilization in terms of adaptable design. In terms of safety, both shuttle buses did not come into view with fire extinguishers shaded by miscellaneous items. Therefore, immediate action is unlikely in case of emergency. This problem should be resolved quickly.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.437-447
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• 2020

Following the extension of human life expectancy, the number of elderly traffic accidents that have been increasing at a rapid pace since 2018 has also emerged as a social problem. The traffic accident rate among those aged 65 and older is increasing, but traffic safety policies are insufficient. Based on the analysis of traffic accident status for senior citizens and traffic accident for the past five years from 2014, the reduction plan is to be presented in three main aspects. First, the system needs systematic management by strengthening the system of senior citizens' transport policy departments and driver's license for senior citizens in government agencies, such as the United States, Britain and Japan, from an institutional perspective, so that the walking time and crosswalk traffic environment for the vulnerable should be improved from an environmental perspective. In addition, in human terms, the ability to cope with real-time changes in traffic conditions should be enhanced by training transportation safety experts to secure the effectiveness of education for elderly drivers and by strengthening safety education for those with driver's license and expanding experienced traffic safety facilities to enhance the ability of senior citizens to cope with the changing traffic conditions in real time.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2008

This study aimed at investigating elderly people's experiences and perception of flood disasters in Gangwon province, which is mainly devastated by flood disasters, and seeking to the coping strategy against vulnerability of disaster between elderly men and women. A total of 183 elderly people aged 60 and over who were directly or indirectly damaged by flood disasters of 2006 in Pyung-chang and In-je in Gangwon province were selected for this study. According to the study results, there were no statistical differences in disaster experiences between elderly men and women, however, a statistically significant difference was found in the perception of disaster among them. Although elderly women are more likely to perceive the possibility of secondary flood disasters than elderly men, elderly women are less knowledgeable than elderly men in disaster attacks and they have appeared to have low coping skills. This study showed that elderly women were more likely to live alone than elderly men and they have low income comparing to the elderly men. In conclusion, elderly women should be considered as a most vulnerable group to the disaster and gender-based approach is necessary to take measures in disaster prevention.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of social networks to health status among the urban low income elderly. Method: Using a sample of 598 elderly aged 65 years and higher, social networks, health status were measured by the Social Networks Scale (LSNS), Perceived Health Status, GDSSF-K, K-ADL respectively. The t-test, ANOVA and Tukey-test and Pearson's correlation analyses were performed using SPSS 18.0. Results: 41% of subjects didn't contact with relatives at least once a month. 56% of subjects saw or heard less than monthly from relative with whom they have the most contact. 47% didn't have relatives who one can rely on private matters. Social networks among the low income elderly significantly differed by marital status, health insurance type, economic status, regular exercise, living with family. Social networks were significantly correlated with perceived health status (r=.201), cognitive function (r=-.154) and depressive symptoms (r=-.301). Conclusion: Poor social networks were found in urban low income elderly. Poorer social networks were related to worse health status and more depressive symptoms. Interventions targeting at increasing social networks are urgently needed for low income elderly.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2023

This study was to suggest the roles of social enterprises in maintaining healthy life of the socially vulnerable by creating a customized care environment through chronic disease diet management targeting the elderly at home in need of care in the community. As for the subjects of this study, 102 in-home elderly people aged 65 or older (14 males & 88 females) who needed care in the community were provided with a diet management lunch box delivery service customized for chronic diseases. Theoretical education and cooking class on chronic diseases were provided to 15 volunteers with 10 sessions, and customized lunch boxes were provided to the elderly with chronic diseases at home on that day. In conclusion, it is believed that only by increasing the level of knowledge about chronic diseases and nutritional knowledge of the elderly will it be possible to establish a proper meal plan. Since the role of volunteers is important, it is necessary to systematically seek nutritional education methods for volunteers.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.176-182
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• 2015

Purpose: To compare the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy between elderly and non-elderly patients. Materials and Methods: Between 2008 and 2015, a total of 273 patients undergoing laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma were divided into two age groups: elderly (${\geq}70$ years, n=71) vs. non-elderly (<70 years, n=172). Postoperative outcomes, including length of hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality were compared between the groups. Results: The elderly group showed a significantly higher rate of comorbidities and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores than those in the non-elderly group. No significant differences were found with respect to lymphadenectomy or combined organ resection between the groups. After surgery, the elderly group showed a significantly higher incidence of grade III and above complications than the non-elderly group (15.5% vs. 4.1%, P=0.003). Among the complications, anastomosis leakage was significantly more common in the elderly group (9.9% vs. 2.9%, P=0.044). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that old age (${\geq}70$ years) was an independent risk factor (odds ratio=4.42, 95% confidence interval=1.50~13.01) for postoperative complications of grade III and above. Conclusions: Elderly patients are more vulnerable to grade III and above complications after laparoscopic total gastrectomy than non-elderly patients. Great care should be taken to prevent and monitor the development of anastomosis leakage in elderly patients after laparoscopic total gastrectomy.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.182-187
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• 2018

As the elderly population increases, they are increasingly affected by oral health problems. Therefore, efforts are being made to improve the oral health of older people, alleviate mental discomfort, and reduce unmet dental needs. This study was conducted to confirm the relationship between the National Health Insurance Elderly Denture Coverage and the unmet dental need for the edentulous elderly, as part of the protection policy. We analyzed the 2011 and 2013 Community Health Survey data of the edentulous elderly, aged 75 years or older, before 2012. In order to more precisely confirm the effects of the denture donation policy on unmet dental care, basic life recipients who were subject to the free elderly prosthetic project were excluded from the analysis. The final analysis included 20,400 subjects. According to our investigation of the factors that affect the unmet dental needs of the elderly, the National Health Insurance Elderly Denture Coverage did not affect unmet dental needs. The statistically significant variables that affected the unmet dental needs of the elderly were education and income levels, which are representative socioeconomic status variables. The lower the level of education, the unhealthier the dental care experience, and income levels showed a similar tendency. The elderly who have a low socioeconomic status are more likely to experience unmet dental needs because they lack the knowledge and socioeconomic ability to pay for dental care. Therefore, the policy for health protection of the entire elderly population should be continuously expanded. In addition, the socioeconomically vulnerable groups may have health problems due to the restriction of medical use, which may lead to quality of life deterioration.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.848-857
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate factors affecting frailty by age groups among vulnerable elders in Korea. Methods: In this secondary analysis, data were collected from records for 22,868 elders registered in the Visiting Health Management program of Public Health Centers in 2012. Health behaviors, clinically diagnosed disease, frailty, depression and cognitive condition were assessed. Data were analyzed using stepwise regression to determine the associated factors of frailty by age group. Results: Alcohol consumption, physical activity, number of diseases, DM, CVA, arthritis, urinary incontinence, depression and cognitive condition were found to be factors significantly associated with frailty among the elders aged 65~74 (F=135.66, p <.001). Alcohol consumption, physical activity, CVA, arthritis, urinary incontinence, depression and cognitive condition were found to be factors associated with frailty in the elders aged 75~84 (F=245.40, p <.001). Physical activity, CVA, arthritis, depression and cognitive condition were factors associated with frailty in the elders over 85 years of age (F=96.48, p <.001). Conclusion: The findings show that frailty of elders and associated factors were different by age group, and common factors affecting frailty were physical activity, CVA, arthritis, depression and cognitive condition. 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 age group.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.1361-1366
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• 2015

In Korea, the special seats for vulnerable users such as the elderly and pregnant woman are provided. However, the usage of seats is very low due to the ignoring or lack of recognition about pregnant woman even though pregnant woman approaches the seat. In this paper, we first consider the problem of special seats for pregnant woman and propose the wireless communication based pregnant alarm service which announces approaching of pregnant woman when pregnant woman moves toward the seats for pregnant woman. First, the service concept and scenario are introduced. Then, we deal with wireless communication technologies which provides the alarm service and their properties. In addition, we discuss implementation issues for realizing the proposed system.