This study explored the meaning and essence of life experiences among community-dwelling frail older adults with diabetes. Methods: This study used Giorgi’s phenomenological methods to analyze in-depth interviews with 16 people who were diagnosed with diabetes and scored 3~5 on the Korean version of the fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses, and loss of weight (FRAIL) Scale. Participants were recruited from a public health and a senior welfare center in OO province of South Korea. Results: The data analysis revealed four essential themes and 12 subthemes derived from the interview data. These themes provided valuable insights into the experiences of frail older people with diabetes and shed light on their perspectives and challenges. The four essential themes were as follows: A feeble body falling into a bottomless pit, a narrowed range of activity, enduring heavy emotional burden, and the prospect of being supported for life. Conclusion: This study revealed that community-dwelling frail older individuals with diabetes experience physical, psychological, and social frailty, exacerbating the need for aggressive diabetes management. These findings underscore the importance of providing holistic care to support this population in managing both diabetes and frailty.

This study aimed to identify factors that influence self-management behaviors in older people with multiple chronic conditions based on the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory. Methods: Data were collected in metropolitan cities B and Y in South Korea from September 2 to October 4, 2023. A total of 149 older people with multiple chronic conditions completed a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 73.9±7.3 years, and 65.8% were women. As a result of stepwise multiple regression analysis, the factors influencing self-management behavior were family functioning (β=.32, p<.001), self efficacy (β=.24, p<.001), subjective economic status (β=.15, p<.05), duration of chronic disease (β=-.14, p<.012). This regression model was explained by 56% of the self-management behaviors. Conclusion: The findings suggest that continuous and comprehensive approaches to improving family functioning, increasing individual confidence in health care, and addressing economic barriers lead to more effective management of chronic conditions.

This study examined the effects of long-term care worker’s human rights sensitivity and perceptions of elder abuse on their intentions to intervene in elder abuse. Methods: This study adopted a descriptive design. Data accrued from 120 Workers (nurses, nurse assistants, and care workers) in Home Welfare Facilities and Medical Welfare Facilities for Older Adults using a convenience sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 software package. Results: Perception of elder abuse was analyzed to explain 30.0% of the intention to intervene in elder abuse. The higher the perception of elder abuse, the higher the intention to intervene in elder abuse (β=.32, p<.001). Conclusion: These results highlight that the higher the human rights sensitivity and awareness of elder abuse, the higher the intention to intervene in elder abuse. Awareness of elder abuse was found to be the only factor influencing the intention to intervene in elder abuse.

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training among Korean older adults in a community and the factors associated with CPR training. Methods: A total of 51,939 elders were selected and analyzed using the 2022 Community Health Survey. The collected data were analysed using the Rao-Scott test and logistic regression via the SAS 9.4 program. Results: A total of 7.3% of older adults received CPR training. Factors influencing CPR training were age (odds ratio [OR]=4.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.55~8.90), level of education (OR=2.43, 95% CI=1.77~3.33), region (OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.05~1.27), working (OR=3.68, 95% CI=3.33~4.07), and subjective health status (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.37~1.79). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, there is a need to explore various ways to improve CPR training for community older adults who are vulnerable to emergency situations.

This study aimed to develop a physical restraints education program using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skill (IMB) model and examine its effects on physical restraint-related knowledge, attitudes, nursing practices, and person-centered care of nursing care providers in long-term care hospitals. Methods: A nonequivalent control group repeated measures quasi-experimental design was used. The participants were 54 nursing care providers (intervention group=27, control group=27) in long-term care hospitals from B city. The IMB model-based education program was developed and implemented once a week for 3 weeks. The program involved brain writing, lectures, poster or slogan creation, writing diary to reduce the use of restraint, and shouting slogans. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires at pretest, immediately after the program completed (3 weeks after pretest), and 4 weeks after completing the program (7 weeks after pretest). Analysis was conducted using χ²-test, Fisher’s exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and repeated measures ANCOVA with the SPSS/WIN 28.0 program. Results: The participants consisted of nurses (40.7%), nursing assistants (40.7%), and care workers (18.5%). The education program had statistically significant effects on knowledge (F=46.38, p<.001), attitude (F=42.70, p<.001), nursing practice (F=31.29, p<.001), and person-centered care (F=27.74, p<.001) regarding physical restraints. The intervention’s effects remained for 4 weeks after the completion of the intervention. Conclusion: This education program effectively enhanced nursing care providers’ knowledge, attitude, nursing practice, and person-centered care concerning physical restraints. Future research is warranted to provide a regularly repeated program and evaluate the direct effects on the frequency of physical restraints for nursing care providers in long-term care hospitals.

Despite a rapid increase in male older adults living alone, relatively little is known about their life satisfaction and related factors. Based on Levine’s conservation model, this study aimed to explore predictors of life satisfaction among older men living alone in South Korea. Methods: Using logistic regression, a cross-sectional secondary data analysis was conducted among male older adults living alone (N=548) from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. Results: The factors associated with a risk of lower life satisfaction in older men living alone were income lower than the standard median income, unemployment, living in rural areas, moderate-high nutritional risk, declined sensory function, depression, and social isolation. Conclusion: To enhance the life satisfaction of older men living alone, customized interventions are required, including comprehensive health assessment with a holistic perspective. Addressing economic stability alongside prevention and multidimensional interventions is needed to mitigate nutritional risks, sensory function decline, depression, and social isolation. Healthcare providers and policymakers in local communities should understand the sociocultural characteristics of older Korean men living alone and provide well-suited formal and informal support programs to address these needs.

The global older adult population is rapidly growing, intensifying the burden of elderly care. To alleviate this challenge of an aging society, interventions utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology are becoming widespread. This review aimed to examine the effects of AI robot interventions on the psychological outcomes of community-dwelling older adults through a systematic literature review. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method was employed to identify and select relevant studies. Seven electronic databases were thoroughly searched for eligible studies from June 1st to 30th, 2023. Methodological quality was assessed using RoB 2.0 or RoBANS 2. Results: Thirteen studies (five randomized controlled trials and eight quasi-experimental studies) were selected in the systematic review. Among the selected studies, eight provided AI robot interventions individually, whereas five used a group format, primarily addressing older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia. Depression was the most frequently addressed psychological outcome, with six of ten studies reporting significant effects. Additionally, five studies each highlighted significant effects on emotions, such as positive expressiveness and enjoyment. However, quality of life, anxiety, and loneliness revealed divergent results. Conclusion: AI robots show potential in alleviating psychological challenges for older adults. However, due to the scarcity of high-quality studies, the review recommends conducting more randomized controlled trials with rigorous designs. This review is expected to provide valuable insights for planning and executing AI robot interventions to improve psychological outcomes for community-dwelling older adults in future research.

The manifestation of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) poses a considerable care burden and precipitates adverse health outcomes. Despite the increasing development of digital interventions, their application in the dementia population, specifically regarding their effectiveness in addressing BPSD, remains limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to describe a study protocol for evaluating the effectiveness of a mobile app-based individualized non-pharmacological intervention to improve BPSD in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Employing a randomized control group pretest-posttest design, 36 dyads comprising people living with dementia (PLWD) and their family caregivers will be assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group will engage in a 4-week regimen using a mobile app-based individualized non-pharmacological intervention, which includes recording and predicting BPSD. The control group will use the BPSD record system without accessing the individualized interventions. Both groups will continue with their usual care practices throughout the study period. Subsequently, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the mobile app-based individualized non-pharmacological intervention on BPSD will be conducted, which will serve as the primary outcome. Discussion: We hypothesize that the implementation of the mobile app-based individualized non-pharmacological intervention will alleviate BPSD. However, the research team may encounter several challenges owing to the novelty of digitalized interventions. Nevertheless, the results of this study will provide robust evidence regarding the efficacy of mobile app-based individualized non-pharmacological interventions for community-dwelling older PLWD.Trial registration: This trial has been registered with the Clinical Research Information Service in South Korea (CRIS No. KCT0008713; registered August 18, 2023).

This study was conducted to confirm the provision standards and appropriateness of functional recovery training services performed on residents in long-term care facilities. Methods: Twenty-eight service providers working in four long-term care facilities applied the functional recovery training services to 63 older residents for 15 days, integrating them with their existing daily tasks. The contents recorded by the service providers on checklists were analyzed, and the experiences of applying functional recovery training services by the service providers were examined through focus group interviews. Results: Training for activities of daily living, excluding bathing, five items such as dressing and undressing are performed 2 to 4 times per day. The duration for one session is approximately 16 minutes for meals, around 10 minutes for bathing, and about 5 to 7 minutes for the remaining activities. Movement and walking training, covering five items like standing, occurs 2 to 3 times per day, with session durations ranging from 3 to 10 minutes. Physical activity training is conducted 1 to 2 times per day, with each session lasting about 5 to 7 minutes. Cognitive activity training is performed 1 to 2 times per day, with each session lasting approximately 4 to 7 minutes. Conclusion: For functional recovery training to be established in long-term care facilities, it is crucial to share an accurate understanding of the concept of training. Prior to the provision of training services, appropriate personnel such as nurses need to comprehensively assess the individuals and plan the training accordingly.