• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1281-1292
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• 2010

This study was performed to identify older adults' self-reported difficulties in understanding and utilizing health information and their relationships with health status and to investigate the differences between age groups and among education levels. Data were collected from July 1 to August 31 in 2007 from older adults in senior centers located in Daegu, Kyungpook, and Busan area. A total of 103 subjects participated in the study. The level of understanding health information in older adults was 50 on average (possible score 15-75). The most difficult items to understand were patient educational materials, written information provided by health care providers, and medical forms. The lower level of difficulty in utilizing health information was associated with better physical and mental health status. There were differences in their self-reported difficulties between the young-old and the old-old as well as among different education levels. Health care providers may need to tailor educational materials and medical forms to the cognitive ability of older adults under the consideration of their age and education levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.197-223
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to understand information behavior of older adults with diabetes. After reviewing previous research, related factors are identified and a questionnaire was devised. The structured interview was administered to the aged 60 and over in the B hospital (N=543). Data about awareness of the disease, health literacy, information environment, information need, information seeking, information use, information service, and personal background are collected and analyzed descriptively. Relationship between variables are examined and hypotheses are tested to find factors affecting information behavior. The level of the awareness of the disease and health literacy appeared to be low. It is proved that awareness of the disease is a factor affecting information need and information use. Health literacy affects information use. There is a statistical significant difference between information need and information use by disease education and duration. There is also a statistical significant difference between information use among groups divided by information environment, sex, age, and education. Based on the results, campaign to raise disease awareness, marketing promotion about information support facilities, customized information service for older adults are suggested.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.327-348
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to understand the diverse lifestyles of Korean older adults by analyzing the consumption pattern of older households and its determinants. The 9th wave of the Korea Labor and Income Panel Study(KLIPS) data was used for analysis. The twenty consumption items provided by the dataset was reduced to thirteen according to the consumption purpose inherent in the item. K-means cluster analysis and multinomial logistic regression was employed to categorize the consumption pattern of older households and to analyze the determinants. The results are as follows. The consumption pattern of Korean older adults was clustered into six distinctive groups named Breadwinner, Leisure-time pursuer, Friendly outgoes, Daily-life survivor, Illness sufferer and Shelter seeker. Breadwinner, Leisure-time pursuer and Friendly outgoes were lifestyles that earn and spend more compared to the other three. Nevertheless, they differed according to the family size, indicating that the parenting burden might have direct influence on the lifestyle of Korean older adults. Older adults without parenting burden and with high level of education and economic capacity were likely to show Friendly outgoes lifestyle. On the other hand, Daily-life survivor, Illness sufferer and Shelter seeker showed lower level of spending, indicating that for those lacking in economic capacity, urgent needs such as medical need or housing need dominates the lifestyle. The results call for adequate custom policies that best fit the needs of older adults.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.205-210
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the age-related ability of dynamic balance recovery through perturbation response during standing. Method: Six older and 6 younger adults participated in this study. External perturbation during standing as pulling force applied at the pelvic level in the anterior direction was provided to the subject. The margin of stability was quantified as a measure of postural stability or dynamic balance recovery, and using principal component analysis (PCA), the regularity of the margin of stability (MoS) was calculated. Results: Our results showed that in the older adult group, 60.99% and 28.63% of the total variance were captured using the first and second principal components (PCs), respectively, and in the younger adult group, 81.95% and 10.71% of the total variance were captured using the first and second PCs, respectively. Conclusion: Ninety percent of the total variance captured using the first two PCs indicates that the older adults had decreased regularity of the MoS than the younger adults. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that aging is associated with non-regularity of dynamic postural stability.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.377-388
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was to examine the relation between diabetes and cognitive function in older adults. Methods: Eighty community-dwelling patients with diabetes and 506 subjects without diabetes were studied with cognitive function test. Cognitive function was measured by Full-scale IQ, Basic IQ, Executive IQ, Attention Function Index, Working Memory Index, Language Function Index, Visuospatial Function Index, Memory Function Index, and MMSE-K1. Results: In model controlling for education, the diabetic group showed significantly lower scores than the non-diabetic group in in Full-scale IQ (p=.012), Basic IQ (p=.034), Executive IQ (p=.014), Attention Function Index (p=.002), Working Memory Index (p=.037), and Memory Function Index (p=.043). The diabetic and non-diabetic groups that were matched for gender, age, and education showed similar differences in 7 out of 9 cognitive measures. The impairments of Full-scale IQ and Memory Function Index in the diabetic group were, respectively, 2.7 and 2.8 times greater than that in the diabetic group. Conclusion: These results showed that diabetes should be considered to a factor of cognitive impairment in older adults.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.257-262
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• 2020

This study recruited adults aged 35 to 64 living in Daegu and Gyeongsang buk-do to analyze the images of the elderly perceived by the mid and older- aged adults and their preparation for later life. The results of this study are as follows: First, as for the images of elderly people recognized by the research subjects, psychological images were the most positive, followed by physical and social images. Those with a higher education level, full-time job, and parents alive had more positive images of the elderly. The psychological images were better in those married compared to singles or divorcees, and the higher the age considered as elderly, the better the psychological and social images of the elderly. Second, preparation for later life in the mid and older-aged adults was better in order of emotional and physical preparation, whereas economic and leisure and social preparation were not enough. Those who are female, those with a higher education level, higher average monthly household income, professional job, and full-time job, and those who have an older age in mind as a definition of elderly have been better prepared for later life. Third, it was found that the sub-factors of their images of elderly people and preparation for later life affected each other, and the more positive their images of elderly people, the better they had been prepared for later in life. The results of this research suggests a desirable direction for improving the images of the elderly, implicating the necessity of exploring measures to provide individual and social support and developing educational programs for successful life after retirement.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.322-334
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors including hand washing, cough etiquette, and oral hygiene of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 100 older adults (mean age: $76.11{\pm}6.35$ years, female: 86.0%). Data were collected from a community senior center through face to face interviews by using instruments including measuring knowledge, perceived threat, self-efficacy, compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors. Results: The mean score of knowledge was 7.52 out of 13 in total. The compliance with hand washing with soap was 6.0% for 8 or more times per day. Among the participants, 12.0% adhered to the cough etiquette. Sixty-two older adults (62.0%) didn't use interdental brushes or floss at all. The stepwise linear regression indicated that age and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant factors and explained 24.0% of the compliance with hand washing and the cough etiquette. Education level, cancer diagnosis, and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant predictors of oral hygiene. The factor with the greatest effect was self-efficacy in the two models. Conclusion: The findings suggest that it is necessary to improve compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors among older adults using senior centers. In order to enhance the compliance, it is necessary to develop nursing programs based on the self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors in the senior centers.

• Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing
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• v.20 no.sup1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe problems and solutions for older adults living alone and using wearable devices to report depressive moods in daily life. In addition, gerontology nurses' competencies and strategies were discussed based on lessons learned from the observational study. Methods: A hybrid method was used, combining literature review and content analyses based on interviews with 53 participants and observations done by the research team. Results: Main issues and relevant strategies were identified in terms of (1) applicability of information and communications technology (ICT) devices for older adults, (2) feasibility of older adults' use of ICT devices, (3) integration of ICT devices into daily life, and (4) relevant issues when older adults use ICT. Important roles and competencies were discussed regarding general and gerontology aspects of ICT. Conclusion: Findings indicate that a wearable device is feasible to measure daily depressive moods in older adults living alone in community settings. To extend our research protocol to practice, gerontology nurses must adequately prepare to meet emerging health care trends and end users' needs for ICT-based nursing. It is necessary to develop diverse educational programs and active involvement in research and design of relevant devices and programs.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.205-217
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the subjective health status (SHS) of low-income older adults living alone. Methods: This is a cross-sectional correlational study using secondary data analysis. Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were included in this analysis. The health-related characteristics were categorized into three domains: physical, characterized by the number of chronic diseases and fall-related factors, timed up and go, and grip strength; psychological, in terms of depression and loneliness; and social, in terms of social support. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean SHS score was 2.46 out of five. Several factors influenced the SHS of low-income older adults living alone, including sex, age, level of education, monthly income, and the three domains. Four significant predictive factors of SHS in low-income older adults living alone were identified (42.5%): the number of chronic diseases, fear of falling, depression, and social support. Conclusion: SHS is a critical factor for older adults living alone on a low-income. Hence, evaluating SHS and developing interventions to improve it periodically is necessay. Such interventions should consider chronic disease management, screening and mediation for depression and fear of falling, and strengthening their social support systems.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.69-87
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• 2023

Background: Swallowing function deterioration is a common problem experienced by older adults worldwide. Many studies have been conducted to improve swallowing function in older adults; however, due to differences in intervention methods and study designs, it is difficult to draw a common conclusion. This study aimed to analyze trends and intervention methods in studies of swallowing function intervention for older adults conducted from 2010 to 2022, to establish a systematic approach for developing interventions to improve swallowing function in older adults and to provide evidence for this approach. Methods: Literature research was conducted for studies published between 2010 and 2022 that applied to swallow function interventions to adults aged 60 years or older. Databases including PubMed, Medline, RISS, Science On, KISS, and KCI were used. From a total of 1,164 articles searched using keywords, 20 articles were selected for final analysis. Results: The number of published articles steadily increased over time, and the intervention period was most commonly 6 or 8 weeks. The types of interventions included focused exercises to improve oral muscle strength in 12 articles and programs incorporating education, practice, and expert management in 8 articles. Among the focused exercises, tongue-strengthening exercises were most common in 4 articles. The evaluation variables for intervention effects were muscle strength evaluation, oral function evaluation, quality of life, and oral health and hygiene status. Muscle strength and oral function evaluations were statistically significant in focused exercise interventions, while the quality of life and oral health and hygiene status was significant in program interventions. Conclusion: This literature review is meaningful as a study that can be used to select the intervention period and program contents when planning an elderly swallowing intervention program.