PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine mediating effects of pleasurable activities on the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation among the elderly moderated by living arrangement such as those living alone (LA) versus those living with others (LWO). METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional and correlational design using secondary data analysis of the 2017 Korean National Survey on the Elderly (2,416 for the LA group, and 6,106 for the LWO group). Logistic regression analysis was conducted comparing effects of pleasurable activities on suicidal ideation between the two groups. RESULTS: For suicidal ideation, there were significant differences in suicidal ideation by sex, religion, and senior center visits in the LA group, while the LWO group had no significant differences identified. Both groups showed significantly different associations of suicidal ideation by socioeconomic status, gathering, meaningful interaction, and depression. Senior center visits were statistically significant in the LA group, while there was not significant in the LWO group. CONCLUSION: Visiting senior centers can reduce suicidal ideation of the LA group. To prevent suicidal ideation of the elderly living alone, mental health specialists should provide community-cooperative environments to address these issues, especially LA elderly.
Aged ; Depression ; Humans ; Leisure Activities ; Logistic Models ; Mental Health ; Negotiating ; Residence Characteristics ; Senior Centers ; Social Class ; Specialization ; Statistics as Topic ; Suicidal Ideation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of an oral self-care program on oral dryness and oral health related quality of life in the elderly. METHODS: The current research design isa nonequivalent control group protest-posttest design with two groups of elders from two different senior centers in D city. Tools for the research include paper of salivary absorption (WF41-1850, Whatman, Germany), 6 items for subjective oral dryness and OHIP-14 for oral health related to quality of life. The data were analyzed to test three hypotheses by using the SPSS 22.0 program. RESULTS: The three hypotheses were significantly accepted. The subjective oral dryness score was lower in the experimental group than in the control group (t=-2.45, p=.022). Salivary absorption was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t=3.83, p < .001).Oral health related quality of life was better in the experimental group than in the control group (t=-2.11, p=.044). CONCLUSION: The oral self-care program has appeared to be effective on oral dryness and an oral health related quality of life in the elderly. Therefore, it can be suggested that the oral self-care program is applicable as an intervention program motivating the elderly to maintain oral health.
Absorption ; Aged ; Humans ; Mouth ; Oral Health ; Quality of Life ; Research Design ; Self Care ; Senior Centers ; Xerostomia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors including hand washing, cough etiquette, and oral hygiene of older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 100 older adults (mean age: 76.11±6.35 years, female: 86.0%). Data were collected from a community senior center through face to face interviews by using instruments including measuring knowledge, perceived threat, self-efficacy, compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors. RESULTS: The mean score of knowledge was 7.52 out of 13 in total. The compliance with hand washing with soap was 6.0% for 8 or more times per day. Among the participants, 12.0% adhered to the cough etiquette. Sixty-two older adults (62.0%) didn't use interdental brushes or floss at all. The stepwise linear regression indicated that age and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant factors and explained 24.0% of the compliance with hand washing and the cough etiquette. Education level, cancer diagnosis, and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant predictors of oral hygiene. The factor with the greatest effect was self-efficacy in the two models. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that it is necessary to improve compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors among older adults using senior centers. In order to enhance the compliance, it is necessary to develop nursing programs based on the self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors in the senior centers.
Adult ; Compliance ; Cough ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Female ; Hand Disinfection ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Nursing ; Oral Hygiene ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Senior Centers ; Soaps

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing activities-specific balance confidence in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This is secondary analysis of data from an intervention study for improving cognitive function. The data were collected from March 2 to September 30, 2017 at a senior center. Data of 131 older adults were included for this secondary analysis, and were analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression. RESULTS: The mean score of activities-specific balance confidence is 65.08 out of a possible range of 0–100. The significant factors affecting activities-specific balance confidence among old adults include ‘more than 85 years old’, ‘waist circumference’, ‘depressive symptoms’, ‘activity restriction due to fear of falling’, and ‘self-rated health’ which explained 52.8% of the variance. CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that psychologic factors as well as physical condition should be considered for interventions to increase activities-specific balance confidence.
Accidental Falls ; Adult ; Cognition ; Humans ; Independent Living ; Postural Balance ; Senior Centers

OBJECTIVES: With the growing elderly population, there is an increasing interest in the oral and general health of elderly individuals. Loss of teeth is representative of oral disease in elderly individuals and is associated with medical and dental problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of remaining functional teeth and cognitive function. METHODS: A total of 456 (111 public health centers, 261 senior centers, 84 sanatoriums) older adults (aged ≥65 years) residing in Korea were included. A mental health nurse examined the cognitive function using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. A dentist examined the number of functional teeth and denture status through an oral examination, while a dental hygienist surveyed the subjective masticatory level using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 79.5 years (range 65–97 years), and 76.1% of them were women. Participants with a small number of functional teeth had lower cognitive function. In these participants, the odds ratio with poor cognitive function was 2.30 times higher; it was 2.74 times higher after adjusting for age, sex, residence, education, and denture use, and was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that the number of functional teeth was associated with cognitive function in the Korean elderly population.
Adult ; Aged ; Cognition ; Dental Hygienists ; Dentists ; Dentures ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Odds Ratio ; Public Health ; Senior Centers ; Tooth

PURPOSE: This ethnography was performed to explore patterns and meanings of healthy life among aged women using senior centers. METHODS: The informants were 21 individuals aged 65 years and older at 2 community-based senior centers. Data were collected from iterative fieldwork through in-depth interviews and participant observations and analyzed using text analysis and taxonomic methods developed by Spradley. Field notes were used with follow-up interviews and dialogue between authors to enhance interpretation. RESULTS: Patterns of healthy life among aged women using senior centers were categorized by age groups within the context of the four cultural elements of taking care of the body, relationality, temporality, and spatiality: active and passive control, maintenance of interdependence and individuality, expansion and maintenance of the daily routine, unity of peer relations and sustenance of family relations, spending time productively and tediously, and complementary and alternative space of the family relations. CONCLUSION: The informants in this study demonstrated healthy life by maintaining and strengthening continuous relationships developed in the senior centers without being isolated from the family and society. Patterns of their healthy life differed across age groups within the socio-cultural context. Therefore, interventions should be tailored to address age groups and community needs.
Anthropology, Cultural* ; Family Relations ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Individuality ; Qualitative Research ; Senior Centers* ; Women's Health

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of physical therapy service utilization and user satisfaction depending on the experience with therapeutic exercise or ultrasound intervention among elderly persons using senior centers. METHODS: The subjects were adults aged over 60 years (total 215) recruited in 40 senior centers located in each province in South Korea. Subjects responded to questions concerning overall demographics factors, utilized characteristics of physical therapy service and 12 variety user satisfactions with effectiveness, facilities, and therapist using a survey instrument. The collected data were analyzed by Fishers' exact tests and t-tests using the SPSS 21.0 program to compare the results of elderly persons who had or had not experienced exercise therapy or ultrasound therapy. RESULTS: The participants that experienced ultrasound therapy or therapeutic exercise reported significantly higher overall results pertaining to effectiveness of physical therapy and a clear explanation from physical therapist's satisfaction than those who were non-experienced. Satisfaction with pain relief was significantly higher among elderly who experienced therapeutic exercise than those who did not. Those who underwent ultrasound therapy showed significantly higher satisfaction with facilities and location than those who did not. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that satisfaction among users differs by type of physical therapy. In the future, physiotherapy services provided in senior centers needs to be designed to improve the effectiveness of physical therapy, professionalism of physical therapists and comfort of facility.
Adult ; Aged ; Demography ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Korea ; Physical Therapists ; Professionalism ; Senior Centers* ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a community-based muscle and joint self-management program with muscle stretching and muscle strengthening exercises for community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: The study was a pre-and-post design in a single group, which examined the effects after the intervention of muscle and joint self-management program for 6 weeks, on the 42 subjects of the elderly who registered in a Community Senior Center in J city. Data analyses were conducted with paired t-test by using a SAS (version 9.2 for Windows) program. RESULTS: The effectiveness of muscle and joint self-management program on shoulder flexibility and right knee extension (flexibility) were significantly improved (t=2.72, p=.010; t=−2.26, p=.029). Joint symptoms (pain, stiffness), physical functioning, depression, fatigue, and left knee extension were not significantly improved after the muscle and joint self-management program. CONCLUSION: The results showed the possibility of this 6-week exercise program in improving shoulder and knee flexibility for community-dwelling older adults.
Adult* ; Aged ; Depression ; Exercise ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Joints* ; Knee ; Muscle Strength ; Pliability ; Self Care* ; Senior Centers ; Shoulder ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to verify the effects of a memory and visual-motor integration program for older adults based on self-efficacy theory. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pretest–posttest design was implemented in this quasi-experimental study. The participants were 62 older adults from senior centers and older adult welfare facilities in D and G city (Experimental group=30, Control group=32). The experimental group took part in a 12-session memory and visual-motor integration program over 6 weeks. Data regarding memory self-efficacy, memory, visual-motor integration, and depression were collected from July to October of 2014 and analyzed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test using PASW Statistics (SPSS) 18.0 to determine the effects of the interventions. RESULTS: Memory self-efficacy (t=2.20, p=.031), memory (Z=-2.92, p=.004), and visual-motor integration (Z=-2.49, p=.013) increased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. However, depression (Z=-0.90, p=.367) did not decrease significantly. CONCLUSION: This program is effective for increasing memory, visual-motor integration, and memory self-efficacy in older adults. Therefore, it can be used to improve cognition and prevent dementia in older adults.
Adult* ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Depression ; Humans ; Memory* ; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Psychomotor Performance ; Senior Centers

Korean society is aging rapidly. Overall, 13.1% of the Korean population was elderly (age ≥ 65 years) in 2015, and this rate is expected to reach 40.1% in 2060. To prepare for this change, the Korean government has developed a long-term care insurance service and supports regional medical centers for the aged. It has established laws about life-sustaining treatment and directives to improve end-of-life care. Although the long-term care insurance currently provides ‘ in-home service’ and ‘ aged care facilities,’ it does not cover rehabilitation hospitals, which can prevent elderly individuals from accessing certain medical services. With the changing demographics, medical care requires change. Conventional medical care must be upgraded to provide suitable care for an aged society. It is important to support the activities of daily living, rather than simply prolonging life. This will require providing homeand community-oriented medical care to improve quality of life. It will also be necessary to train more geriatricians who understand the characteristics of elderly patients, provide comprehensive geriatric assessments, and lead other physicians in team-based medicine. Internists are already engaging in multidisciplinary collaboration and end-of-life care, which are critical qualities of leading geriatricians. Further discussion and consensus is needed regarding the training of geriatric medicine specialists in Korea.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Aging ; Consensus ; Cooperative Behavior ; Demography ; Geriatric Assessment ; Humans ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation ; Senior Centers ; Specialization