PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate and compare health conservation and its related factors of elders in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. METHOD: Data for health conservation was collected from 316 elders in 10 institutions in Daegu city and Kyungpook province from February 1st to February 22nd, 2005. Data was collected by a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, general health status, health conservation, functional health status (ADL, IADL) and depression (GDS-K) scales. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS (version 11.5) program including descriptive statistics, t-test, -test, Pearson's correlation and stepwise method regression analysis. RESULT: The elders in assisted living facilities revealed lower scores in health conservation, ADL and IADL than the elders in nursing homes. Predictable variables influencing health conservation of the elders in assisted living facilities were depression and MAC (Mid-Arm Circumference) that is equal to .270, and the the elders in nursing home were depression, IADL, degree of sleep, and TSF (Triceps Skin Fold) that is equal to .409. CONCLUSION: The development of a health conservation program and long-term health care service system for elders in assisted living facilities are needed than for the elders in nursing homes.
*Quality of Health Care ; *Nursing Homes ; Male ; Korea ; Humans ; *Homes for the Aged ; *Health Status ; Female ; *Assisted Living Facilities ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged

PURPOSE: There is a growing number of older adults moving into assisted-living facilities to maintain their independence while being assisted with certain tasks and having convenient access to services. Physical activity (PA) and vitality play an important role in independence, as well as in mental health, of older adults. However, no research has examined the difference in older adults' levels of vitality (defined as the state of feeling alive and alert) between those living in assisted-living facilities and those from community-living settings. This study also explored sociodemographic predictors of PA and vitality among older adults living in two different types of housing.METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined differences in PA levels and vitality between older adults (aged ≥ 60 years; n = 148, mean age = 74.70 years) living in assisted-living facilities (n = 85, mean age = 77.46 years) and those in community-living settings (n = 63, mean age = 70.98 years). PA was assessed by accelerometry, and vitality was measured using the subjective vitality scale.RESULTS: Engagement in light PA and moderate to vigorous PA was higher in individuals living in community-living settings after controlling for sociodemographic variables. However, vitality was not significantly different between the two types of housing after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Marital status, education, and number of diagnosed diseases were associated with vitality.CONCLUSION: The support is needed for designing strategies to increase PA in older adults living in assisted-living facilities. More attention should be paid to increasing subjective vitality of older adults in both types of housing to promote healthy aging.
Accelerometry ; Adult ; Aging ; Assisted Living Facilities ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Housing ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Motor Activity

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were; 1) to test the validity and reliability of the Korean version of Rantz's Observable Indicators of Nursing Home Care Quality Instrument (ONHQ) and 2) to evaluate the quality of Korean nursing homes. METHODS: The study employed a three-phase methodological research design. 1) The original instrument of Rantz's ONHQ was translated into Korean and modified by Korean nursing home experts. 2) A pilot study using the modified instrument was done in 20 nursing homes to examine inter-rater reliability. 3) The validity and reliability were tested in 98 nursing homes. RESULTS: Seven factors were extracted through factor analysis: 'communication', 'care delivery', 'grooming', 'odor', 'environment-basics', 'environment-access', and 'environment-homelike'. These factors explained 86.07% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the 30 items was .97 indicating a high internal consistency of the instrument. Inter-rater reliability according to Kappa was .82. The average score of nursing home quality was 112.07 indicating an average range of quality level. CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the ONHQ was identified as a tool with a high degree of validity and reliability. This tool can be effectively used to assess the quality of nursing homes by professions as well as family members.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Assisted Living Facilities ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Health Facility Environment ; Homes for the Aged ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing Homes/*standards ; *Quality of Health Care ; Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVES: An outbreak of hepatitis A occurred at a residential facility for the disabled in July 10, 2011. This investigation was carried out to develop a response plan, and to find the infection source of the disease. METHODS: A field epidemiologist investigated the symptoms, vaccination histories, living environments, and probable infection sources with 51 residents and 31 teachers and staff members. In July 25, 81 subjects were tested for the hepatitis A virus antibody, and specimens of the initial 3 cases and the last case were genetically tested. RESULTS: Three cases occurred July 10 to 14, twelve cases August 3 to 9, and the last case on August 29. Among the teachers and staff, no one was IgM positive (on July 25). The base sequences of the initial 3 and of the last case were identical. The vehicle of the outbreak was believed to be a single person. The initial 3 patients were exposed at the same time and they might have disseminated the infection among the patients who developed symptoms in early August, and the last patient might have, in turn, been infected by the early August cases. CONCLUSIONS: The initial source of infection is not clear, but volunteers could freely come into contact with residents, and an infected volunteer might have been the common infection source of the initial patients. Volunteers' washing their hands only after their activity might be the cause of this outbreak. Although there may be other possible causes, it would be reasonable to ask volunteers to wash their hands both before and after their activities.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral/metabolism ; Assisted Living Facilities ; Child ; Disabled Persons ; *Disease Outbreaks ; Drinking Water/virology ; Female ; Hepatitis A/*epidemiology ; Hepatitis A Virus, Human/genetics ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral/analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult