PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to identify gender and age differences in health status and health behaviors of community-dwelling older adults in an urban city.
METHODS
A convenience sample of 500 older people were recruited. Participants completed eight study instruments by face to face interview. The instruments were the Korea Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Body Mass Index (BMI), Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, Stanford Research Instruments for Chronic Disease, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea version, EuroQol-5 Dimensions scale (EQ-5D), and the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture Frailty Index.
RESULTS
71.6% were females and mean age of all participants was 74.4 years. Participants were divided into three age groups: 60 to 74 years (n=263, 52.6%), 75 to 84 years (n=207, 41.4%), and ≥85 years (n=30, 6.0%). Significant gender differences were found in educational level, marital status, family type, religion, perceived economic status, K-IADL, SPPB, grip strength, BMI, fatigue, smoking, drinking, communication with physicians and nurses, and EQ-5D. There were significant differences among the three age groups on educational level, marital status, family type, SPPB, grip strength, regular health check-up, communication with physicians and nurses, and frailty.
CONCLUSION
Gender difference should be taken into consideration more than age when policy and preventive programs for community-dwelling older adults in an urban city is developed.

Citations

• Factors Affecting Happiness Among Rural Residents: A Cross Sectional Survey
  Hae Kyung Jo, Hyun Kyoung Kim, Ji Na Jeong
  Community Mental Health Journal.2020; 56(5): 915.     CrossRef
• Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Basic Physical Capability Scale for Older Adults
  Eun-Ok Song, Gwi-Ryung Son Hong
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2020; 32(1): 21.     CrossRef
• Older Adults' Perceptions of Age-friendliness with an Emphasis on Community Supports and Health Services in a City in South Korea
  Chi-Young Lee, Belong Cho, Youngtae Cho, Yeon-Hwan Park
  Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing.2019; 30(2): 234.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
Focus group interviews were conducted to explore the current status and barriers of health care services in nursing home from the viewpoint of staffs taking care of nursing home residents.
METHODS
A qualitative thematic analysis using the focus group interview method was used. A total of 32 health care professionals (19 nurses and 13 social workers) from thirteen nursing homes in South Korea attended (5 focus groups) in 2014.
RESULTS
The two main themes were identified: 'minimal health care services that left personal care needs unmet' which has three subthemes of 'stereotyped and fragmented care by types of care providers', 'medically-oriented health care services' and 'health care services mixed with social or recreational programs'; and 'barriers to proper and timely care in nursing homes' with four subthemes including 'unmet care needs due to cognitive dysfunction or lack of expression', 'care guides or tools not suitable for long-term care facilities', 'health care needs that are beyond the facility's care boundary', and 'care delay due to lack of understanding on the older adult's status'.
CONCLUSION
The findings from this study should help health care policy makers to recognize the factors that influence health care services and provide direction for nurses and other staffs involved in supporting health care services for nursing home residents.

Citations

• Factors Affecting Mealtime Difficulties in Older Adults with Dementia Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Multilevel Model Analysis
  Dukyoo Jung, Jennie C. De Gagne, Hyesoon Lee, Leeho Yoo, Jisung Park, Eunju Choi, Yonggang Zhang
  Journal of Nursing Management.2023; 2023: 1.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Food Service Provision by Food Service Operational Types for Residential Facilities
  Jin Hee Kwon, Rah Il Hwang, Hyeon Jin Jeong, Hye Min Jang
  Journal of Health Informatics and Statistics.2022; 47(4): 258.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of a Technology-Enhanced Integrated Care Model for Frail Older People: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial in Nursing Homes
  Hongsoo Kim, Young-il Jung, Gi-Soo Kim, Hyoungshim Choi, Yeon-Hwan Park, Suzanne Meeks
  The Gerontologist.2021; 61(3): 460.     CrossRef
• Nurses' Views on Infection Control in Long-Term Care Facilities in South Korea: A Focus Group Study
  Chi-Young Lee, Min-Hye Lee, Seong-Hyeon Lee, Yeon-Hwan Park
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2018; 30(6): 634.     CrossRef