Korean Elderly People Research Articles

The Effects of Elderly Koreans’ Individual Characteristics on Living Arrangements

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of individual characteristics of elderly Koreans on their living arrangements. Interviews with elderly persons aged 65 years and over were conducted in Seoul, the capital of Korea.The study population was Korean elderly people who lived either independently or with their children. The sample was stratified to represent older adults in high- and low - income areas of Seoul. Regression was used for data analysis.Independent living situations by the elderly were influenced by the existence of the spouse, the level of higher education, the ability for self-support, the individual's health status, and the marital status of the children. Older adults in Korea consider their marital status, their ability for self-support, and the marital status of their adult children as important determinants of their living arrangements for the nearfiture. Such elderly demographic statistics as age, gendel; number of children, and number of sons were not signijkant in predicting elderly living arrangements in Korea.

Effects of Education in Dementia Assessment: Evidence from Standardizing the Korean-Dementia Rating Scale

This study established norms and examined validity and reliability of the recently developed Korean version of the Dementia Rating Scale (K-DRS; Chey, 1998) for the elderly Korean population. The K-DRS was administered to 148 normal elderly Korean people and 20 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT). Norms were developed a priori for two age groups (55–64 and 65–84 years). Education (p < .0001) and age (p < .05) proved significant factors in the performance of the K-DRS, whereas gender did not. Accordingly, norms were further specified into two educational levels (6 years or fewer, and more than 6 years). Education was recognized as an important factor in evaluating dementia in a population with limited education. These implications are significant for dementia studies done in developing countries where educational opportunities have been limited for elderly people. Evidence supporting the validity and reliability of the scale was also found. K-DRS total scores correlated well with diagnostic status (r >pb> =.63) and mental status exam scores (r =.80). Test-retest reliability was .96, and interrater reliability was .99.

Health Practices of Korean Elderly People: National Health Promotion Priorities and Minority Community Needs

The official health promotion goals for the year 2000 in the United States include an emphasis on behavioral and contextual changes to increase the healthy lifespan of Americans. The goals also encompass reducing disparities in health status among different groups, and many of the specific goals address issues pertinent to older people. Limited data on the health status and health behaviors of older Asians and Pacific Islanders contributed to the absence of any goals for this group of elderly people. This article uses 1993 to 1994 data on 213 Korean and 201 non-Hispanic white people age 65 and over who lived in Los Angeles County to compare, by ethnicity and gender, health behaviors that may influence the health of older people. The older Koreans practiced a somewhat higher number of healthy behaviors overall, but smoking cessation for older Korean men and increased exercise for older Korean women were specific areas needing attention. Limited English-speaking ability and educational levels of the older Koreans make it imperative that health promotion activities for older Koreans use community-based organizations that can reach the older Koreans in an effective manner.