• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.305-314
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of and factors associated with long-term care (LTC) utilization under public long-term care insurance (LTCI) among end-of-life older adults in Korea. Methods: Using a 5% sample of older people aged 65 or older and their health and LTC insurance data, two-part model analyses were conducted. We compared LTC uses and their determinants during the last year of life among decedents in the year 2010 with those of survivors. We also compared the medical uses of the same sample with their LTC uses. Results: The end-of-life elderly were more likely to use LTC, and their expenditure on LTC was higher than their counterparts. Whether or not older people used LTC during their last year of life was significantly affected by age, sex, health insurance, household income, and living alone; however, LTC costs of the decedents were only affected by functional status, which may have been due to the reimbursement scheme of the current LTCI, which is mainly based on functional dependency level. For the survivors, having chronic diseases significantly increased the likelihood of LTC use, which was not the case for the decedents. End-of-life elderly with relatively low social economic status were more likely to use the LTC other than medical services, while the health conditions affected their medical uses most significantly. Conclusion: The study findings provide key information for predicting demand related to the increasing LTC needs of Korean older people at the end of life.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.242-251
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine disparities in food and nutrient intakes based on family types identified among 1,856 participants who were the Korean elderly people in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) excluding those who were currently practicing the diet therapy. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We separated the subjects into two groups: living alone (LA, n = 638) and living with a spouse (LS, n = 1,218). We also examined the disparities of dietary quantity and quality of those two groups using complex sampling design general linear regression analyses (CS GLM). RESULTS: In the LA group, there was a higher percentage of females and average age in LA group was higher than the participants in the LS group. Household income and education level were significantly lower in LA compared to those of LS. The frequencies of skipping meals were higher in LA. LA's food and nutrient intakes showed lower consumption of vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, and of most nutrients. Even after adjusting for the confounding factors, the consumption of vegetables, seaweeds, carbohydrates, potassium, riboflavin, and vitamin C showed lower in LA than LS. Moreover, LA's nutrient intake ratios compared to the KDRIs were lower which turned out to be similar to their nutrient intakes. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that dietary behavior and food intake of the elderly are associated with family types. Frequently skipping meals and less dietary variety are more common with elderly persons who were living alone. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate the supplementary food programs and nutrition education programs for the elderly living alone.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.333-343
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between dental implants and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Data were collected from the baseline survey (2016-2017) of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. The study sample comprised 1115 community-dwelling people aged 70 years to 84 years who had 0-19 natural teeth. Dental implants and natural teeth were identified by panoramic radiography, while the cognitive function was assessed by the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC). The association between dental implants and cognitive function was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Sensitivity analysis was performed to test for potential bias. Results: The mean number of natural teeth in the study population was 9.50 (standard deviation [SD], 6.42), and the mean MMSE-KC score was 24.93 (SD, 3.55). In the simple univariate analysis, tooth replacement, age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index, osteoporosis, number of natural teeth, periodontitis, chewing discomfort, tooth-brushing frequency, education level, monthly household income, participation in economic activity, living alone, and marital status had a significant impact on the association. After adjusting for confounders, the association between dental implants and cognitive function remained significant (B, 0.85; standard error, 0.40; p<0.05). Age, body mass index, periodontitis, tooth-brushing frequency, and education level were also significantly associated with cognitive function. The results of the sensitivity analyses were consistent with those of the primary analysis. Conclusions: Dental implants were associated with cognitive function in older adults living in the community. Dental implants as tooth replacements may play a role in preserving cognitive function.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2020

As the number of elderly people living alone increases, the frequency of fall accidents is also increasing. Falls are a threat to the health of older adults and can reduce their ability to remain independent. To solve this problem, we need real-time technology to recognize and respond to the critical condition of the elderly living alone. Therefore, this paper proposes a modified fall detection algorithm based on YOLO-KCF that can check one of the emergency situations in real time for the elderly living alone. YOLO can detect not only the detection of objects, but also the behavior of objects, namely stand and fall. Therefore, this paper can detect fall using the ratio of change of boundary box between stand and falling situation, and this algorithm can improve the shortcomings of KCF.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of telephone intervention on the reduction of depression after the intervention for the elderly living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. A one-group pretest and posttest design was used to examine changes in depression level following telephone intervention a once a week for 10 weeks. The subjects of this study were older adults aged 65 registered with 3 social welfare institutions in Wonju, and a total of 114 elderly completed a questionnaire before and after the intervention. Telephone intervention was provided by 56 nursing student volunteers, and each student was in charge of 2-3 elderly people. The depression score decreased from 6.59±3.74 before the intervention to 5.01±3.34 after the intervention (t=4.959, p<.001). Study findings suggest that telephone intervention is effective as an emotional support for the elderly living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is needed to expand the scope of various subjects and regions, including the elderly not living alone.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.195-209
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• 2011

This study examined the prevalence of and factors associated with unmet care need among community-dwelling middle-aged and older people in Korea. Data were from the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study on Ageing (KLoSA), a national survey of 10,254 non-institutionalized adults aged 45 or older. Having unmet care needs was defined as needing personal assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) but having no available helper. Weighted logistic regressions were fitted to examine factors associated with unmet care needs. Overall, 7.3%, 14.5%, and 41.8% of subjects among the middle-aged, younger old, and older old, respectively, reported care needs of these, 34%, 33%,and 24% had unmet needs. Factors associated with unmet needs differed among the three groups: Education and income level were negatively associated with unmet needs among the middle-aged, but living alone was the only factor positively associated with unmet needs in both the younger and older old. The prevalence of and factors associated with unmet care needs differ by life-stage. Needed are home- and community-based care and services to meet the need for personal assistance among the elderly living alone in a community.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of forest healing programs with walking, sightseeing, and forest scent among six healing forest treatments using forest environment on the cognitive function, depression, and quality of life of elderly living alone. The subjects of the study were 17 senior citizens living in Samcheok and complaining of severe depression and forgetfulness. They were divided into two groups, and each group participated in the six sessions of the weekly forest healing program. All of them were surveyed of a Korean version of the MMSE-K, BDI (Beck Depression Inventory Korean Version), and SF-36 (Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire) with the questionnaire designed for the one-group pre-post test to examine changes in cognitive function, depression, and quality of life. The results showed that the mental status, depression level, and quality of life of respondents were significantly higher after healing programs. These results suggest that participation in healing program activities using forest environment can improve cognitive function, relieve depression and improve quality of life for senior citizens living alone. Therefore, inducing older adults who live alone and avoid outside activities to participate in the regular forest healing program will contribute to the prevention of dementia due to age and environment.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.467-480
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the cell phone utilization and depression among the Korean elderly living alone using '2014 Korean National Survey on Older Adults. A total of 2,493 survey data of the elders living alone 65 years or more was included in the analysis. The degree of the cell phone utilization were categorized into (1) No cell phone, (2) Only phone calls, (3) Phone calls and text messages, and (4) Searching news and information through the internet surfing. The results showed that 81.5% elderly living alone had a cell phone. The 'no cell phone' group was 19.5% while 'information search' group was 3.5% among the elderly living alone and has more probability of depression than 'information search' group (OR=0.064, 95% CI=0.018-0.227), which indicates that as elders living alone utilize their cell phone more, the probability of the depression decreased. This result implies that elders living alone who utilize their cell phone more are engaged in social interaction more and this can lead to decrease in depression.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.187-201
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the health status and health promoting behavior of older adults in rural area. The design of research was descriptive study. 883 older adults over sixty years living in the rural area of Pusan city were surveyed from July 9. 1999 to July 20. 1999 through direct interview using a questionnaire and physical examination. The collected data were analyzed for percentage. mean. Chi square-test. ANOVA using the SPSS computerized program. The main results were as follows: 1. 43.4% of subjects lived alone or with only partner. 2. 37.13% of subjects had perceived own health condition as bad. 3. Major 'chronic diseases that the subjects were suffered were diabetes(25.94%) and hypertension(9.11%). 4. The mean score of perceived depression was 17.71 of 44. 5. 87.98% of subjects replied that they had good relationship with their family and friends. 6. 8.57% of subjects were identified as over weight. while 10.85% were low weight. 7. 29.93% of subjects replied that they were smoking. By the group. the rate of smoking of man was significantly higher than women. and lower age group than higher age group, and higher education group than lower education group. 8. 70.38% of subjects didn't practice exercise. By the group, the rate of exercise of woman was significantly lower than man, and higher age group than lower age group, and lower education group than higher education group. 9. 12.33% of subjects replied for the frequency of drinking as more three -times a week. By the groups. man showed significantly more frequency than woman. the lower age group than higher age group, the lower education group than the higher education group. 11. The mean score of nutrition state was 3.73 which means moderate risk state. 12. The 57.53% of subjects replied, their sleeping time as below 7 hours. 13. The 15.75% of subjects had experience a periodical inspection. In conclusion, older adults in rural area were identified having various health risk factor, Looking at the results. It is necessary to develope health promotion program which enhances older adults to practice health promoting behavior and to manage their chronic disease.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.191-200
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of participation in leisure activities on the quality of life by comparing gender and household type. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2017 Korean Elderly Survey and the participants were 7,406 people who are 65 years and above. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS (version 18.0) statistical package. Results: The result of this study revealed that participation in leisure activities has a significant effect on the quality of life of In the case of older adults who are men and live with couple, voluntary activities have a significant effect on their quality of life, while for elderly women living alone, arts & cultural activities have a significant effect on their quality of life. Conclusions: Based on these results, we suggested some implications for supporting healthy leisure activities and improving the level of quality of life among aged people.