• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.611-619
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate changes in the mental functions of the elderly in nursing facilities affected by a horticultural therapy program based on validation therapy. To meet the purpose, we conducted a horticultural therapy program based on validation therapy with 58 elderly participants (average age 79.12±6.84, men and women) once a week, 50 minutes per session, in a total of 10 sessions. Participants were divided into the control and experimental group with convenience sampling. The program was carried out from March 15 to November 22, 2018. Vibraimage 8 pro(ELSYS, 2014) is a recent, psychologically based, emotional-recognition visual imaging technology that measures pixels microvibration in terms of digital frequency and amplitude parameters. To examine the effects of the horticultural therapy program based on validation therapy, Vibraimage was used to assess aggression, stress, tension, suspect, balance, charm, energy, self-regulation, inhibition, neuroticism and positive, negative, physiological domains of mental functions before and after program. As a result, the mean score of the positive domain in the control group significantly decreased from 63.89±5.09 to 60.74±5.48, but it decreased without statistical significance in the experimental group from 63.98±5.45 to 61.39±6.02. The mean score of neuroticism in the experimental group significantly decreased from 31.64±10.94 to 22.87±13.79. Moreover, the mean score of the physiological domain in the experimental group also significantly decreased from 25.08±6.27 to 19.42±8.80. Accordingly, horticultural therapy program based on validation therapy can be utilized as a program to promote mental health, especially maintaining positive mental health function of the eldery, helping those who live in long-term care facilities enjoy a happier life more happier.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.131-139
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to ensure that the elderly do not enter a facility even if their health deteriorates, but continue to live in the community and receive necessary care. According to the survey of the elderly, the cohabitation type of the elderly in Korea was that they lived with married adults and/or unmarried children in addition to single and married households. Therefore, in this study, using the SPSS 25 program, the effects of the elderly's socio-demographic characteristics and cohabitation type on the intention to continue living in the community was analyzed using the 2020 elderly welfare status survey data. The main research results are as follows. First, gender, age, and residence type of the demographic characteristics of the elderly were found to be statistically significant. Second, single households, married households, and households living with the eldest son revealed the statistical significance level of the elderly. Based on this, we were intending to provide basic data necessary for establishing welfare policies for the elderly, such as strengthening care and an age-friendly environment, in order to improve the continued residence of the elderly in the local community.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.254-263
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study assessed the prevalence of the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Korean elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, this study examined risk factors that affect PIM use. Method: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using Korean National Health Insurance claims database of 2009. PIM use in Parkinson's disease patients aged 65 years or older was examined based on 2012 Beers Criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for PIM use. Results: Among 5,277 elderly patients with Parkinson's disease, 88.9% of patients used PIM(s) at least once. The average number of PIM items used per patient was 4.2. PIM use ratio, the proportion of total amount of PIMs to all medications per patient, was 12.6%. Frequently used PIM therapeutic classes were benzodiazepines (32.7%), first-generation antihistamines (19.2%), and prokinetics (17.5%). Individual PIMs most commonly used included chlorpheniramine (11.4%), levosulpiride (10.9%), diazepam (9.0%), and alprazolam (7.6%). Women (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.16), medical aid (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.21), and long-term facilities (OR 2.43, 95% CI 2.22-2.65) were shown to be risk factors associated with PIM use. Of particular, wide variation in PIM use was associated with the types of healthcare facility. Conclusion: The PIM prevalence was very high in elderly Parkinson's disease patients. Nationally effective and systematic efforts to identify and prevent PIM use should be made to ensure patient safety and to improve quality of care in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.215-224
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Hahoe mask dance on the gait and muscle activity in the elderly who lived at a elderly welfare facility. Methods : Dancing group was consisted of 20 subjects(over 70 years). The time of measurement was assigned in pre measurement, after 1 month, after 2 months. Subjects was received the Hahoe mask dance for three times a week during 8 weeks. The control group was consisted of 20 the elderly (similar age) who didn't received dancing. Assessment of gait function included the gait velocity, step time, stride, step length, it was analyzed in activity for 4 muscles (rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and lateral gastrocnemius). Results : Activities for muscles of control group was decreased in rectus femoris, bieps femoris, however, those of experimental group was increased significantly(p<.05). While control group showed decrease in the gait velocity per second (p<.05), experimental group showed statistically significant increase(p<.05). Control group had a significant long time than that of control group in gait time of right and left foot(p<.05). Control group was a little longer than control group in stride time of right and left foot(p<.05). Step length for control group was shorter than that for experimental group both foots(p<.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, this study confirmed that activities for 4 muscles by EMG have showed significant increases, so we will use a programme of muscle improvement in elderly community welfare faculty. We recommend that further research should explore the degree of muscle activity by larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2010

U-healthcare provides people with many conveniences and keeps their health. As facility centered medical environment is being changed to patient centered one, however, various problems are emerging. These problems range from institutional problems to technological, producer related, and user related ones. The researcher took interested in problems originating from users, in particular, elderly patients and guardians taking care of an elderly patient. The main focus of this study is the direction of serious contents design for training skills in HMI of U-healthcare equipment and developing emergency coping abilities. In this study, I started from research on elderly cognitive psychology and elders' motor reactions and interconnected the characteristics of various digital content forms. The results of this study are expected to be useful for the rapidly expanding elderly population and in the U-healthcare industry.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.79-87
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• 2008

Snoezelen, multi-sensory stimulation, provides stimulation through the visual, aural, tactile, olfactory, gustatory and proprioceptive senses. Its aim is to be a relaxing, feeling of safety, novelty and stimulation with no expectations for performance. Agitated behavior of people with dementia causes significant problems and distress for cares. The objective of this research study was to test the effects of Snoezelen room on physical and verbal agitated behaviors of people with dementia. Four patients participated five sessions in Snoezelen room of 'F' dementia care facility in Sweden. Assessment instrument was basically used Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory-Short Form to be rated by caregivers on a 5-point frequency scale. Pre-trial and post-trial assessments were carried out during $27^{th}$ Aug.-$27^{th}$ Sept. 2007. Result shows that Snoezelen room has some short-term positive effect on agitated behavior even though there was a considerable variation individuals responded. This result adds to the increasing evidence that Snoezelen could be a therapeutic environment for the elderly with dementia. Further research study, with larger number of participation, and a control group is required to establish more scientific evidence of Snoezelen effects on health outcome.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.2485-2491
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• 2009

Culture was performed by using Sheep Blood Agar Plate (BAP, Asan Pharmaceutical) and Sabouraud Dextrose Ager (SDA, Asan Pharmaceutical) along with air $IDEAL^{TM}$ (Biomerieux), which is a microbe interceptor based on inertial impaction interception, in order to investigate bioaerosol in indoor and outdoor air at five elderly care facilities in a metropolis and an urban-rural consolidated city for two months from April 1 to May 31, 2007. From the culture followed by isolation and identification, the following conclusions were drawn. 1. As for the general isolation of microbes in each facility, care center S had the largest amount of microbes (263 cfu/$m^3$) isolated in a 300L room, followed by care center U having 123 cfu/$m^3$ isolated. 2. As for the number of bacteria isolated from a medium intercepting 300 L indoor, the largest amount of other unidentified or non-pathogenic Gram positive cocci (321 cfu/$m^3$) was isolated and most of the other Gram positive cocci were CNS (Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus). 3. As for the number of fungi isolated from a medium intercepting 300 L in a room, the largest number of Aspergillus spp. (66) was isolated, followed by Mucor spp. (62 cfu/$m^3$), Penicillium spp. (53 cfu/$m^3$), Alternaria spp. (50), and other unidentified or non-pathogenic fungi (42 cfu/$m^3$). 4. As for the rate of indoor and outdoor pollution, the average number of interceptions was all larger indoor than outdoor; the research differentiating the amount of air into 300 L and 500 L demonstrated that the larger amount of air led to more bacteria, making no great variation in the species.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.200-209
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• 2017

Objectives : The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms and sociodemographic factors associated with geriatric depression and insomnia and to examine the effects of these factors on depression. Methods : The severities of insomnia and depression in elderly aged 60 and older lived in Gwangmyeong city were evaluated and the related sociodemographic factors were investigated. From April 20, 2016 to December 1, 2016, Gwangmyeong city Mental Health Sevices consignment by department of psychiatry of a university-affiliated general hospital conducted surveys and interviews for total 837 elderly peoples lived in Gwangmyeong city by visiting welfare center and wards located in the city. Structured interviews were conducted using Insomnia Severity Index(ISI) and Short form-Geriatric Depression Scale(S-GDS) to examine the relationship between sociodemographic factors and the severities of insomnia and depression. Results : There were significant differences in S-GDS mean scores and age(below 70 years old, 70s, 80s, above 90 years old), type of health care(health insurance, medical aid), type of residency(own, not own) and marital status(single, married, divorced or widowed).There was a significant difference in education level, especially between not educated(and/or) elementary graduates and college graduate(F=3.227, p=0.012). Also, there were significant differences in age, type of health care, type of residency, number of household on divided S-GDS score above and below 10 scores(p<0.05). Insomnia measured by ISI was not significantly associated with sociodemographic factors(p>0.05), but was significantly associated with depressive symptoms(p<0.05). These findings suggest more severe insomnia symptom indicated the higher probability of depression and elderly with depressive symptoms had more severe insomnia. Conclusions : Geriatric depression has significant relationships with age, type of health care, type of residency, marital status, education and number of households. In addition, insomnia which is main symptom of depression in elderly, has important role in predicting the severity and diagnosis of depression.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.650-663
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• 2009

The purposes of this study were to investigate one portion size of menus served and to evaluate nutrient intake of lunch at three elderly care facility food services located in Seoul. A weighed plate method was employed to measure plate wastes and consumption of the menus served. Yield factors were calculated from cooking experiments based on standardized recipes, and were used to evaluate nutrient intake. One hundred elderly participated in this study for measuring plate waste and were asked to complete questionnaire. Nutrient analyses for the served and consumed meal were performed using CAN program. The yield factors of rice dishes after cooking are 2.4 regardless of rice dish types, 1.58 for thick soups, 0.60 to 0.70 for meat dishes, and 1.0 to 1.25 branched vegetable. Average consumption quantity of dishes were 235.97 g for rice, 248.53 g for soup, 72.83 g for meat dishes, 39.80 g for vegetables and 28.36 g for Kimchi. On average the food waste rate is 14.0%, indicating the second highest plate waste percentage of Kimchi (26.2%), and meat/fish dish (17.3%). The evaluation results of NAR (Nutrition Adequacy Ratio) showed that iron (0.12), calcium (0.64), riboflavin (0.80), and folic acid (0.97) were less than 1.0 in both male and female elderly groups, indicating significant differences of NAR among three facilities. Compared to the 1/3 Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs) for the elderly groups, nutrient intake analysis demonstrated that calcium (100%) and iron (100%), followed by riboflavin, vitamin A, and Vitamin B6 did not met of the 1/3 EAR (Estimated Average Requirement). For the nutritious meal management, a professional dietitian should be placed at the elderly care center to develop standardized recipes in consideration of yield factors and the elderly's health and nutrition status.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.515-522
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• 2008

This study is to search the determinants which influence on evaluating the silver welfare facilities, of which data for this study were collected from the survey on the evaluation of social welfare facilities which were enforced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2006. As the results, all the factors for the management of those facilities, such as facility and environment, management of organization and human resource, service quality, and community relation, influences significantly on silver welfare facility. Among the factors, the development of service quality should be taken care of, since service quality strongly explains the result of evaluation through the regression analysis. In regard of the fundamental factors, the juridical fund itself has no influence on the evaluation of the institutes, while the patronage fund for the facilities has significant influence on silver welfare facilities except elderly housing. However, the fundamental support from government has negative influence on the facilities for specialized nursing.