• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.361-374
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• 2015

This study explores the relationships between the division of housework, perceived marital fairness, communication, and marital satisfaction in elderly households. Although the marital relationship is one of the most important factors affecting the quality of life, few studies have focused on marital quality, particularly in the context of older adults. Data were obtained from the 2nd National Korean Family Survey in 2010. The results based on a total of 410 elderly households with couples aged 60 and over indicate significant differences in housework participation between men and women. Women were responsible for most of the housework. According to the regression analysis, the division of housework, perceived marital fairness, and communication independently predicted marital satisfaction, but there were no significant relationships between sociodemographic factors and marital satisfaction. There were significant interactions between the division of housework, perceived marital fairness, and marital satisfaction through communication as a moderator of effects of the division of housework and perceived marital fairness on marital satisfaction. The higher the satisfaction with communication, the stronger the relationship between marital satisfaction and satisfaction with the division of housework was. On the other hand, the lower the satisfaction with communication, the greater the effect of perceived marital fairness on marital satisfaction was. These results suggest that the way in which elderly couples perceive their marital relationships and the level of their satisfaction in interacting with each other play important roles in enhancing their marital quality.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.525-540
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate what kind of experiences the deaf elderly would have in the course of life. It also aimed to promote the understanding of their living difficulties and culture among people with normal hearing and provide basic data to help them live with others as members of the community. Phenomenological qualitative research was conducted as part of the methodology. The subjects include seven deaf old people. Based on the results of in-depth interview and analysis, the life experiences of the deaf elderly were categorized into "unforgettable wounds," "life in the community," "life with the family," "marriage of the deaf elderly", and "living by adjusting to reality." First, the subcategories of "unforgettable wounds" include "receiving no treatment for fever," "damage by the Korean War," "alienation from the family," and "people's cold eyes." It turned out that the deaf elderly had led a life, suffering from the heart wounds that they could not forget. Second, the subcategories of "life in the community" include "inconvenience in life," "disadvantages in life," and "severed life." The deaf elderly were not only subjected to inconvenience and disadvantages in life, but also suffered loneliness, being cut off from the community. Third, the subcategories of "life with the family" include "not communicating with children," "being abandoned again," "being used by the family," "being lonely even with the family," and "wishing to live independently from the family." The deaf elderly were not supported by their families and were abandoned or used by them, leading a solitary life. Fourth, the subcategories of "marriage of the deaf elderly" include"send as a surrogate mother," "frequent remarriage and divorce," "lean on as a married couple." Deaf elderly form their own culture of the marriage and lean on each other. Finally, the subcategories of "living by adjusting to reality" include "getting help from neighbors," "behaving oneself right in life," "learning Hangul," "living by working," "living freely," "living by missing," and "controlling the impulse to end life," "resorting to religion." The deaf elderly made the most alienated and vulnerable group with no access to benefits due to their limitations as a linguistic and social minority, but they made efforts to form their own culture and adjust to reality for themselves. Based on those findings, the study made the following proposals: first, there is a need for practical approaches to heal the ineffaceable wounds in the hearts of deaf elderly. Second, there is a need for policies to help them experience no inconvenience and disadvantages as members of community and communicate with people with normal hearing. Third, there should be practical approaches to enable them to get recognition and support from their families and share love with them. Finally, there should be practical policy approaches to help people with normal hearing understand the culture of deaf elderly and assist the deaf elderly to receive supports from the community and live with others within the community.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.749-758
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• 2001

The purpose of the study was to analyze the functional status of low income elderly living at home according to their socio-economic factors, sensory function, health status, medical service utilization, commodity and types of chronic disease. Method: Functional status was defined by the level of mobility, ADL and IADL categorized as independently functional, mildly impaired, moderately disabled, and severely disabled. The data was collected by home-visit interviews with 567 community dwelling adults who were 65 years of age or more with low a income status subsidized by government in ChonAn. Results: 9.9% of community dwelling older adults were severely disabled, and 44.4% were moderately disabled in their functional status. There were significant differences in the functional status by age, education, religion, and types of family structure. The older adults with hearing impairment or dental problems had a significantly higher rate of severe disability. Self-rated health status and medical service utilization were also significant factors to the differences in functional status. The functional status of older adults was also significantly related to the presence of chronic health problems such as chronic back pain, stroke, and Alzheimer-dementia. Conclusion: The results confirmed that community dwelling older adults with low income status were more functionally disabled in comparison to general older adults at national level, while the relating factors to their functional status seemed similar to other studies on older adults. Further studies were suggested to look into functional status longitudinally and focus on the changes of functional status by managing modifiable influencing factors.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.103-114
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• 2002

Housing is a central place fur elderly and it can be influenced to the quality of life for them. Most low income elderly has much problems on their housing. It needs to be developed for more various ones which considered in the way of their economic and physical conditions. This case study was aimed to supply (or a basic data for developing a housing for tow income elderly through the analysis of elderly housing of Melbourne in Australia. This study evaluated two types of government housing and five types of community housing available to elderly People on low income allowing them to live independently. Results of the research were as follows. 1) High rise apartment living was differentiated from other housing types. Such accommodation had drawbacks, for example it made the elderly difficult to get along with neighbours. 2) Community housing had more various types of housing than government housing and was aimed at encouraging community interaction between residents. Some community housing residents joined the management of the housing committee. As a result, it made the elderly very confident and promoted a good relationship between them and young generations. 3) The strength of community housing was that the elderly could choose the place to live within the community which was familiar to them. 4) The managers in broth government housing and community housing had many roles as adviser and mediator for residents as well as managing the complex. 5) A policy of housing for low income elderly is changing now from management by government appointees to one governed by the community 6) Most elderly prefer to live close to facilities such as medical and shopping centers and convenient transportation and wished to remain in their familiar community as long as possible.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

The main purposes of this study were to investigate the content of health behaviors and to examine factors influencing the health behaviors of the elderly. Data regarding the health behavior of 126 people over 65 years of age living in community settings were used. All subjects were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic variables, health behaviors, present chronic disease, subjective health status, a scale for worthy life, a scale for self-esteem, and a scale for loneliness. Health behaviors included 27questions on diet, exercise, stress-coping, smoking, drinking, a regular medical check-up, social activities, etc. The data analysis procedure included stepwise regression using health behavior as the dependent variable, and sociodemographics, illness, and psychosocial variables as independent variables. Stepwise regression revealed that factors such as feelings of worthy life($\beta$＝-0.350, p＜0.0001), communicating with otjers or the lack there of ($\beta$＝0.183, p＜0.05), and self-esteem($\beta$＝0.196, p＜0.05) were independently and significantly associated with health behaviors. For example, individuals who showed higher levels of worthy life and who had confiding relationships with others tended to practice more health behaviors. Subjects who had a higher level of self-esteem showed the same tendency. These results suggest the necessity of a intervention that considers psychosocial aspects should be included in care of the elderly so as to promote positive health behavior.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.28-40
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to reduce loneliness through a systematic review by analyzing the effectiveness, composition and method of non-face-to-face services on the elderly living in the local community. Methods: From June 11 to 15, 2021, related papers were searched using six databases: Ovid-Medline, Ovid-Embase, Cochrane library, KISS, Koreamed, and RISS. Two authors independently assessed the quality of selected studies and data was synthesized. Results: Non-face-to-face services promoted loneliness and social isolation, social support and quality of life, other emotional responses, attitudes and usability, and diet and exercise. As the composition and method of services are being tried in various ways, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive service using ICT to provide systematic intervention to the elderly in the local community. Conclusion: Reflecting the difficulties in implementing face-to-face services due to COVID-19, it is expected to be used as basic data for developing comprehensive non-face-to-face services that meet the major needs of the elderly people and maintain the continuity of care.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2002

As a result of the expansion of the nuclear family in society, there has been an increase in the number of elderly people who want to live independently of their children. Australia is one of the countries which has initiated an extensive welfare program for its senior citizens. These services include maintenance of, and alterations to their own homes to make living conditions safer and more manageable. This case study was aimed at finding ways of adapting the services provided in Australia, to meet the needs of elderly Koreans who are in similar situations. It evaluated houses which had been renovated and altered fur the normal as well as the disabled elderly in both Melbourne and Sydney. results of research were as following : 1) Most elderly usually wished to remain as long as possible in their own home and it made them very stable in psychologically. 2) Housing maintenance and alterations were provided as one of social care services fur elderly with low expense and loan from government. 3) Many elderly were also getting various kinds of social services, fur example, meals on wheels, transportation and cleaning service with housing alterations and these ones let their quality of life more improved. 4) Occupational therapist and Architect were always involved in the process of housing alterations for disabled elderly. 5) The alterations which related to bathroom, toilet and steps were very popular and those were considered essential design guide applications for planning of housing for elderly in the future.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.293-303
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• 2009

This study reported phenomenological analysis of the interviews with 26 adult grandchildren who had(or have) a cohabitation with grandparents. The research question was what adult grandchildren experienced in living with grandparents. Results indicated that "the aged" was described as generous and wise person, so they had positive attitude toward the elderly. Participants perceived level of benefits of the coresidence with grandparents were higher than the costs in instrumental, material, and emotional supports. The relationship between grandparents and parents was generally intimate. It makes adult grandchildren advocate parents living together in the future. But adult grandchildren plan to get along independently when they grow old.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.406-414
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine dysphagia risk among community-dwelling elderly people living at home. We also examined the impact of socio-demographic variables on dysphagia risk as well as the relationship between dysphagia risk and dietary characteristics. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study sample included 568 community-dwelling individuals, aged 65 years and above, who were living independently in their own home in Seoul, Gyeonggi, or Gwangju in South Korea. We used a dysphagia risk assessment scale to screen for dysphagia risk and the Mini nutritional assessment to evaluate the nutritional status. Associations between dysphagia risk and other variables were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 568 subjects, 350 (61.6%) were classified into the dysphagia risk group (DR) and 218 (38.4%) were classified into the normal group (non-DR). Being female (odds ratio (OR) = 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.28-2.59), being 75 years and older (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.69-3.42), having a lower education level (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.33-3.97), and having a lower perceived economic status (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.32-3.60) were more frequently observed with dysphagia risk compared to those who did not have such characteristics. Lowered mastication ability (OR = 14.40, 95% CI = 4.43-46.95), being at risk of malnutrition or malnourished (OR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.75-4.23), lowered appetite (OR = 3.27, 95% CI = 2.16-4.93), and decreased food intake (OR = 2.95, 95% CI = 1.83-4.78) were observed more frequently in the DR group than in the non-DR group when adjusting for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop and apply integrated programs to improve the dietary habits and nutritional status of elderly individuals at risk for dysphagia, especially for women aged 75 years or older with lower educational and economic levels.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.16 no.3 s.62
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• pp.93-101
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to propose our direction of long-tenn care facility for elderly. The long-tenn care insurance plays an important role for human well-being. The functional and architectural changes of Japanese elderly care facilities have been analysed in order to predict changes in Korean welfare facilities. In Japan, Unit-care and private rooms are essential elements after reforming welfare facilities for aged. This study proposes components of unit-care through the analysis of 20 facilities for the aged. A unit is basically consist of private rooms, rest room, public living area, kitchen, health care service station, and bath room. Besides, smoking room, tea room, public terrace, guest room, court yard, and so on can be added. A unit can be connected with other unit by semi-public spaces or can be independently organized. This relationship has been classified into 2 types; Open unit type and Separated unit type.