• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1591-1595
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• 2018

The number of healthy older adults is rapidly increasing recently owing to the increase of the elderly population. Therefore, programs for improving the cognitive functions of these healthy seniors are actively being expanded. This study aimed to prevent the decline of cognitive function due to aging by applying a program enhancing cognitive functions to healthy older adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Korean computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program (CoTras), which is commonly used in cognitive therapy for the aging, on the memory of the elderly. The subjects had scored at least 24 points in MMSE-K. CoTras was applied once a week (30 minutes) for one month. Electronic pegboard programs were used as an evaluation tool: order memory (difficulty=low) and location memory (difficulty=medium). The order and location memories were compared before and after the intervention. The Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test was used for the study at the significance level of ${\alpha}=.05$. The results showed that CoTras significantly improved order memory and location memory. Therefore, CoTras can be applied to the healthy elderly for improving that memory improvement training has a positive impact on healthy older adults result in the development of memory enhancement programs can be expanded in the future.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.185-196
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• 2021

Objective: Falling is one of main accident to facilitate the physical injuries in order adults. The purpose of the systematic review was to determine the effects of postural balance training whether the recovery of falls in elderly with normal physical function or not throughout summing the selected studies quantitatively. Design: A systematic review Methods: MEDLINE and other four databases were searched up to April 20, 2021 and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating postural balance approaches on fall risks in elderly. The researched studies excluded the double studies, titles and abstract, and finally full-reported study. The selected RCTs studies were extracted characteristics of the studies and summary of results based on PICOS-SD (population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and setting- study design) model to synthesize the papers qualitatively. Results: The review involved 22 RCT reports with 4,847 community older adults aged 65 years or over. Nineteen of the selected RCT studies reported dual or multimodal exercises show the beneficial effect for older adults compared to one-type treatment or no intervention. All of selected showed low risk in the selection, attrition, and reporting bias. However, detection bias showed low risk at 75% records of the involved RCTs and performance bias was low risk at only three records. Conclusions: The results of the systematic review propose that a standardized therapeutic approach and the intensity are needed for improving risk of falls in older adults.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.341-358
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• 2015

This study aims to identify predictors of driving cessation among Korean elderly. Data from 2011 Elderly Survey conducted by Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs were used for the analysis. Based on Webber, Porter, Menec(2010)'s comprehensive theoretical framework for mobility, the model of this study tests five major determinants of driving cessation including financial, psychosocial, environmental, physical and cognitive factors. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that economic status, marital status, contacts with relatives and friends, residential location, taking medication, muscle strength, age, gender, and job were significant predictors of driving cessation of older drivers. Specifically, lower economic status, unmarried status, less contacts with relatives and friends, living in the city, taking medication, weaker muscle strength, older age, female, non-working status were significant risk factors for driving cessation. Practical implications in light of study findings were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.31-58
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• 2008

This study examines applying the elderly poverty labor hypothesis and skill-biased technological change hypothesis to labor force participation rate(LFPR) of older males in Korea. These hypotheses have hardly been examined on the this group. The analysis is based on the data "Summary of economically active population($1965{\sim}2007$)", "Population projection($1965{\sim}2007$)", "Report on wage structure survey($1993{\sim}2005$)" and "Korea Labor and Income Panel Study($1998{\sim}2006$)". The method employed for this study is logistic regression. The main results from this analysis are summarized in five points. Firstly, Korean older males' LFPR have been increasing since 1965 when industrialization was expanding at full steam. This trend has been different from the decreasing trend of industrialized countries. The second finding is that poor older males' LFPR is, on the average, 5.2% higher than that of non-poor older males from 1998 to 2005. The third result is that the non-elderly man has been increasingly positioned at higher grade occupations, while the elderly man has been held at lower grade occupations. The fourth is that labor demand for highly educated workers has exceeded the increased labor supply of the group, while the demand for low educated workers has decreased far beyond the declined labor supply. As a result, college premium has increased from 139% in 1993 to 157.8% in 2005. The final main implication of this study is that the industrialization theory and modernization hypothesis still holds for the LFPR of Korean older males. However, the elderly affluence hypothesis of the LFPR of older males are hardly persuasive in explaining Korean phenomenon. Especially, we find that the elderly poverty is the main mechanism in determining the Korean LFPR in old ages. This supports the elderly poverty labor hypothesis presented in this study. Skill-biased technological change hypothesis partially explains the LFPR of older man. However, we believe that other factors; human capital specially high school education rather than university education and skill required in less skill biased occupations or the poverty; also have taken effect.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.767-770
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• 2016

Background: The proportion of aged Thais (${\geq}65$ years old) is expected to be 30% by 2030, leading to an increased number of elderly cancer cases. Older individuals have distinct patterns of cancer and treatment needs. We therefore conducted the present study of new cancer cases and trends to get a perspective on the elderly cancer situation in Northeast Thailand. Materials and Methods: All new elderly cancer cases (${\geq}65$ years) registered in the hospital-based cancer registry at the Faculty of Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University during 1993-2012 were included in the study. Results: Elderly patients accounted for 31.6% of all cancer patients and new cancer cases in the older age group increased 46% from the first to second decades. The absolute number of oldest old (80+ years) doubled. The top three cancers in males were liver and bile duct, lung, and colorectal. In females, the three most common cancers were liver and bile duct, oral cavity, and cervix. Cancers with the highest percentages of increase were thyroid, prostate, and colorectal. Conclusions: Elderly cancer cases are increasing. Treatment modalities and palliative care for older populations are urgently needed.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1031-1044
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• 2010

Corresponding to the rapid growth of the aging population without an adequate social safety net for the elderly, older people face great disadvantages due to sudden illness or poor health and a lack of support from the younger generation. Furthermore, older women are suffering from a drastic deterioration of their economic status because of insufficient retirement savings. Examining the impact of labor force participation and living arrangement on health status and life satisfaction in later life, it is important to consider gender differences in context of social policies for the elderly. Using data based on a stratified national sample of the elderly by the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), multiple regression model were used to estimate the relationships between labor force participation and health status and subjective life satisfaction concerning the quality of their later life. The result indicates that good health status and high level of life satisfaction are associated with the type of paid work status for the elderly men, but those are associated with the type of non paid work, such as family businesses employees for the elderly women. Significant differences in chronic health condition and subjective life satisfaction by employment characteristics are found among the elderly. In addition, older women's high level of life satisfaction was associated with the participation of the social activity. The major conclusion from these results should help us understand gender differences in the elderly and acknowledge further exploration of gender variations in these people's later life.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2010

Purpose: Poisoning is a major health problem for the elderly, and poisoning can cause fatal side effects. However, the characteristics and clinical features of elderly patients with acute poisoning have not been well studied in the previous domestic research. So, we tried to analyze the clinical characteristics and toxic substances of the patients who were 65 years old or older and who were admitted to the regional emergency medical center due to acute poisoning. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and poisoning protocols of the patients who were 65 years of age or older and who had with acute poisoning and who visited the ED in our emergency center from January 2005 to December 2009. We collected the demographic information, the gender, the underlying diseases, the causes and toxic substances, the initial presentation, the treatment and the outcomes. Results: A total of 2179 poisoned patients visited the hospital during 5 years, and among them 244 were 65 years of age or older (11.2%). The mean age was $75.6{\pm}6.9$ years and the male:female ratio was 1:1.7. The most common cause of poisoning was suicide (73.4%) and the most common source of poisonous substances was their own drugs. Of the substances used for poisoning, benzodiazepine was the most common drug (25.8%), followed by sedatives other than benzodiazepine (25.4%), insecticide (12.7%), chemical agents (12.3%) and herbicides (8.2%). The most common initial presentation was mental change (64.8%). When comparing the factors between the three elderly groups, there was no difference in gender, the cause, the substances and the underlying disease. The outcomes of treatment included ICU admission (56.1%), a good condition at discharge (12.7%) and admission to a general ward (12.7%). The overall mortality rate was 10.2% for the elderly patients. Conclusion: In this Korean study, unlike the foreign studies, the most common cause of poisoning in elderly patients was intentional poisoning. The admission rate was 68.8% and mortality rate was 10.2%.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and lifestyle factors related to the metabolic syndrome in Korean elderly. Methods: A total number of 122 elderly over 60 yr were recruited from a community elderly center. Elderly were classified into young old (60-74 yr) and old (75-84 yr). Metabolic syndrome was defined by third report of the national cholesterol education program (NCEP) expert panel on Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). Abdominal obesity was determined by Korean society for the study of Obesity criteria. The nutritional status was measured by mini nutritional assessment (MNA). Results: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in the old than young old elderly (p<0.05, respectively). Abdominal obesity and hypertension were the most common risk factors. The related factors to metabolic syndrome were high Body mass Index (BMI) and currently not participating in exercise. Abdominal obesity, low HDL cholesterol and hypertension were associated with specific nutrient intakes. Conclusion: A strategy to decrease the metabolic syndrome in the elderly is urgently needed particularly so for the old elderly. A nutritional and exercise program for young old elders may be helpful reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in later stage.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.173-190
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to investigate social relationship and housework implementing of the elderly households in Chungbuk and to provide suggestion s from the perspective for the well-being of the elderly. The data of this study are collected through questionaire and the data of 244 respodents are analyzed using Frequency Contingency analysis one-way ANOVA. The results are as follows: firstly most elderly tend to have a close relationship with their neighbors in their houses. The activity of social relationship is routine behavior and the satisfaction of social relationship with their neighbors is high, The older the age the lower the education level and the poorer in physical health the more frequently they meet their neighbors and friends the more frequently they go to establishments for elderly and tend to play games such as a flower cards game. Secondly the average time implementing housework by elderly women is about 3.63 hours. The attitude toward housework is a l ttle negative. The average housework eqipments owned by them are 4.8 The older the poorer in physical health the lower level of owning housework equipments the shorter is the time implementing housework and the more negative is the attitude toward housework.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.231-242
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• 2012

The purposes of this study were to identify the needs for ubiquitous home services in residential environment of elderly single or elderly couple households living without children and also to analyze the differences of the needs according to their demographic and housing characteristics. For this study, a literature review and field works on ubiquitous home services for older people were performed. Also, 1 to 1 interview by using the questionnaire which was developed by the researchers in this study was conducted and 270 elderly residents in Seoul and Gyeonggi-Do were responded. Seventy-one ubiquitous service items which were adopted to home electronic appliances and furniture for older people were developed for 1 to 1 interview questionnaire. The major findings of the study were as follows: the elderly residents expressed highest need for ubiquitous home service items related to safety and health issues. Among ubiquitous service items applied to gas stove, vacuum cleaner, TV, telephone, sofa and toilet, the items related to safety and health aspects were most needed. And residents' income level and health status were the two major variables to show group differences in the need of ubiquitous home services. In other words, the elderly residents who were high income and frail tended to have the highest demand for ubiquitous home services adopted to home electronic appliances and furniture.