PURPOSE
This study was performed to identify skin health status and the factors influencing skin hydration in the institutionalized elderly.
METHODS
The subjects were 139 elders living in 2 nursing homes in Seoul. Data for skin health status were collected by measurement of skin hydration, sebum, trans-epidermal water loss and pH using Corneometer, Sebumeter, Tewameter and Skin pH-meter on face, flank, arm and leg. Baseline data were collected by a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 12.0 program.
RESULTS
Skin hydration and pH were relatively low especially on arms and legs but sebum and TEWL were not low, relatively. There were significant differences in skin health status according to gender, smoking, alcohol intake, and bath cleanser. There was significant positive correlation between skin-hydration and bath-time, TEWL and bath-frequency. Smoking, bath-cleanser, bath-time. pH and gender were identified as the significant influencing factors of skin hydration.
CONCLUSION
Smoking, bath-time and pH need to be considered as important control factors for increasing skin health status in the institutionalized elderly.

PURPOSE
The purpose was to investigate the physiological parameter and physical health status and health perception in the elderly, and to find the correlation between these variables. The subjects were 139 in Kyungi senior center. METHOD: The instruments for this study were physiological parameters, which were composed of vital capacity, blood pressure, pulse oxygenation, hand grip power, body fat and physical health status scale developed by researcher, and health perception scale developed by Ware(1976). The data were analyzed by the SPSS-PC 11.0 version. RESULTS: 1) 7.9% of subjects were included in abnormal range of vital capacity, 40.3% were systolic hypertension and 11.5% were diastolic hypertension. And 92.1% were included in normal range of pulse oxygenation, 79.8% were weakened hand grip power, and 10.1% of subjects were included in normal range of body fat. 2) The total mean score of the physical health status was 26.34 of a possible maximum score of 45. The physical health status score of women was lower than man's. 3) The mean score of man's health perception was 24.52 and women's was 20.39 of a possible maximum score of 44. 4) There was a significant positive correlation between hand grip power and physical health status(r=.28, p=.001). And a significant correlation between physical health status and health perception was found (r=.24, p=.004). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the blood pressure, hand grip power and body fat among the physiological parameters of elderly subjects in Kyungi senior center were included in abnormal range. The factors were related life style. therefore, it is suggested that the health education to change life style for the elderly is needed.