• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.525-536
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate effectiveness of a peer support program conducted by older community volunteers for older adults living alone. Methods: Thirty volunteers trained as peer supporters were matched with low-income, older adults living alone in the community on gender. Visits occurred on a weekly basis over the 12 month study period, and the volunteers provided peer support for health management to solitary older adults. Data were collected, before the start of the program and again 6 and 12 months after its initialization, from intervention and control groups regarding physical health, general health, mental health, depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze data. Results: By the end of the program, socially isolated older adults in the intervention group had significantly higher scores in physical health and general health than elders in the control group. Significant interaction effects between time and group were found for depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support. Conclusion: The peer support program undertaken by older community volunteers was effective in improving physical health, general health, depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support in socially isolated, low-income, older adults.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2016

The aims of the present study are two-fold: 1) to explore differences on speech perception between younger and older adults according to noise conditions; and 2) to investigate which cognitive domains are correlated with speech perception. Data were acquired from 15 younger adults and 15 older adults. Sentence recognition test was conducted in four noise conditions(i.e., in-quiet, +5 dB SNR, 0 dB SNR, -5 dB SNR). All participants completed auditory and cognitive assessment. Upon controlling for hearing thresholds, the older group revealed significantly poorer performance compared to the younger adults only under the high noise condition at -5 dB SNR. For older group, performance on Seoul Verbal Learning Test(immediate recall) was significantly correlated with speech perception performance, upon controlling for hearing thresholds. In older adults, working memory and verbal short-term memory are the best predictors of speech-in-noise perception. The current study suggests that consideration of cognitive function for older adults in speech perception assessment is necessary due to its adverse effect on speech perception under background noise.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.429-437
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• 2011

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to describe the prevalence of low weight and to investigate related factors contributing to low weight in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: From the database of the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-IV), the researchers selected 2,964 older adults aged over 65. The original study was a population-based epidemiological survey of health and nutrition with a stratified multistage clustered probability design. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: The prevalence of low weight in older adults was 4.7%. The prevalence of low weight was different according to demographic characteristics. That is, the rate was higher in male elders, older ones, and rural residents. In the cases of current smoking, frequent alcohol consumption and no chronic disease, the prevalence of low weight was higher. Age, gender, area of residence, and current smoking were found to be contributing factors to low weight in community-dwelling older adults. Conclusion: The result of this study provides important insights into possible reasons for low weight in community- dwelling older adults and suggests that low weight should be considered in promoting older adults' health.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.281-290
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• 2020

Objectives: Stress is the cause of several illnesses, in older people, stress may also cause various social problems. The oral health of older adults is closely related to the quality of life, and chewing ability is particularly important for their general health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress, the number of teeth remaining, and the chewing ability, which reflects the oral health status among older adults. Methods: This study evaluated the stress level and chewing ability of adults older than 65 years using the 6th (2014-2015) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination data. The total number of remaining teeth was determined based on the data of the teeth conditions. Results: There was an association between stress and chewing ability among older adults. The odds ratio of chewing function increased by 2.67 times (crude OR=2.67; 95% CI=1.88-3.79) with increased stress. After adjusting, the odds ratio increased to 2.74 times (adjusted OR=2.74; 95% CI=1.88-3.98). Conclusions: Reducing stress may facilitate effective oral health management and improve the overall quality of life in older adults. The findings of this study may help in the discovery of various approaches s to reducing stress in older adults and provide relevant information for oral health education.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.spc
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• pp.563-576
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify personal factors, social factors, and environmental factors related to physical activity in older adults in urban and non-urban areas. Methods: We used source data from the 2017 Community Health Survey. The subjects of this study included some older adults aged 65 and over, and analyzed the data of 23,043 older adults living in the urban and 34,063 older adults living in the non-urban area. Results: The common factors influencing physical activity in older adults by region include current smoking and drinking, BMI, sleep duration, and subjective health status, help with neighbors, frequency of meeting with neighbors and friends, participation in social and leisure activities, and falls experience (p<.001). However, the living environment, public transport satisfaction, and medical service use significantly associated with physical activity for only older adults living in the urban area (p<.001). Conclusion: In order to improve physical activity in older adults in the community, it is necessary to consider not only the improvement of individual factors that practice health behaviors but also health promotion strategies that take into account social and environmental factors because there are environmental differences among regions.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2021

Purpose: Malnutrition affects all age groups, but older adults are particularly more vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies. This study evaluated the age-specific factors affecting malnutrition in hospitalized older adults. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on inpatient elderly people who received artificial nutrition from 2010 to 2017. Data of demographics, diagnosis, type of nutrition therapy, number of comorbidity, fall risk assessment, Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) score, and intensive care unit admission were collected. Malnutrition was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5 kg/m². Patients were classified as the young-old (65~74 years old), the old-old (75~84 years old), or the oldest-old (85 years old or older). Results: A total of 7,130 older adults were included, and 4,028 patients were classified as the young-old, 2,506 into the old-old, and 596 into the oldest-old. Proportion of malnutrition was higher in the oldest-old compared to the other groups. In multivariate analysis, parenteral nutrition, alcohol, and high risk of falls were factors affecting malnutrition in all groups. Parenteral nutrition and alcohol in the young-old, high risk of falls in the old-old, and male sex in the oldest-old were the factors affecting malnutrition by the age group. Conclusion: Older age was the most significant factor affecting malnutrition. Specific strategies by age are needed to improve nutritional status in hospitalized older adults as influencing factors for malnutrition vary among different age groups.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.261-274
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to understand the current use of and demand for assistive eating devices. These device improve the self-feeding abilities in older adults. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional study design. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS 22.0 for Windows. The survey participant of 282 older people(47.7%), 42 family caregivers(7.4%), and 266 staff members(44.9%). Results: Whereas most of the older adults living in their home(87.3%) did not experience difficulty while eating, older adults residing in facilities(26.4%) expressed difficulty with the process of putting food into a spoon. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(p<.001). Wile the older adults living in home considered assistive eating devices(34.5%) as the most important requirement for self-feeding, older adults in facilities considered receiving help(39.3%) as their biggest requirement(p<.009). Older adults, family caregivers, and nursing home staff were not familiar with assistive eating devices and were not aware of their necessity. Conclusion: The study could help increase awareness about assistive eating devices and the importance of self-feeding in research and nursing educational settings. Improvement in self-feeding ability may future enhance the daily quality of life of older adults.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.418-431
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• 2022

Purpose: The aims of this study were to examine the rate of depression among older adults living alone and to identify factors associated with depression in older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A secondary data analysis was performed using data from the 2020 Korea Community Health Survey. The study participants were 18,824 older adults aged 65 years and over living alone. The data of the complex sample design was analyzed with consideration for weights, stratification, and clustering. Complex sample multiple logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with depression in older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The results showed that the rate of depression in older adults living alone was 6.3%. Older adults living alone with decreased physical activity, decreased hours of sleep, and an increased or similar frequency of meeting with friends or neighbors were found to be more likely to have depression. In terms of factors related to the practice of COVID-19 infection prevention and control rules, not disinfecting regularly and not wearing a mask indoors were related to depression. For health-related factors, fair or poor self-rated health status, not having breakfast every day, and feeling stressed were related to depression. Conclusion: It is recommended to develop tailored interventions to prevent depression among older adults living alone by considering the factors related to their depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.367-393
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• 2013

Quality of life(QoL) of older cancer patients have not gained enough attention from researchers even when cancer is the number one cause of death of Korean elderly. Therefore, this study aims at understanding the QoL of older cancer patients and factors related to it, applying Taylor(2012)'s Stress-Coping Process model, and by comparing with older chronic disease patients and middle-aged cancer patients. Results indicated that physical health QoL of older cancer patients was the worst and their mental health QoL was similar with middle aged cancer patients. Multi-group analysis of Structural Equation Modeling indicated that the relation between QoL and the stress coping resources was not statistically different from older cancer patients and older chronic disease group, as well older cancer patients and middle-aged cancer patients. Implications of results to improve the QoL of older cancer patients are discussed.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2004

Hypertension is prevalent among older adults, and nutrition is important for hypertension management. However, there are few nutrition education materials developed for older adults. The purpose of this study was to develop a booklet for prevention and management of hypertension for older adults. Based on lesson plans, topics for the booklet included introduction to hypertension, hypertension prevention through weight management, nutritional management of hypertension, and lifestyle modifications. After several revisions of the draft were made, illustrations and icons appropriate to the text were designed by a graphic designer using Illustrator 9.0 and Photoshop 6.0. The booklet consisted of four chapters and 40 pages. The first chapter dealt with information on hypertension, risk factors, complications and dietary guidelines. These were mainly explained by illustrations and characters of older adults. The second chapter included assessment of obesity, reducing fat intake and behavioral change strategies. The third chapter focused on practical tips for reducing salt, eating more fiber and calcium, and sample menus. The fourth chapter presented information for quitting smoking and drinking, and stress management. Finally, games, meal planning and quizes, were presented as reinforcement. Based on pilot testing with 10 adults aged 50 and older, minor changes were made in wording, expressions and information. This booklet is characterized by using simple and specific messages, providing tips for dietary and lifestyle changes, and using illustrations and characters of older adults to increase understanding. The revised booklet is self-explanatory and can be used by older adults or in nutrition education for older adults.