PurposeThe purpose of this study was to propose and test a conceptual model that explains the interrelationships among perceived social support, loneliness, physical activity (PA), and quality of life (QoL) among active older adults in South Korea.MethodsData were collected from 332 individuals over the age of 65 using a systematic stratified convenience sampling method. Survey data were collected and analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM).ResultsPerceived social support had a significantly positive effect on PA (β = 0.14, p < 0.01) and QoL (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) while decreasing loneliness (β = −0.55, p < 0.001). PA had a significant positive effect on QoL (β = 0.12, p < 0.01), and loneliness had a negative effect on QoL (β = −0.37, p < 0.001). Loneliness mediated the relationship between perceived social support and QoL.ConclusionThe SEM results of the current study support the proposed model that explained the interrelationships among perceived social support, loneliness, PA, and QoL among active older adults in South Korea. These findings suggest the importance of incorporating social support mechanisms for PA interventions in order to enhance QoL. The findings of this study can help create more effective health and physical education programs for the older generations in South Korea to enhance their QoL.

The study provided information about the correlates of social engagement in NH residents with dementia. Future research needs to be conducted to develop nursing interventions to involve these individuals in social activities tailored to functional levels, and depression in more diverse geographic regions.

With the rapid growth of the assisted living (AL) industry, the number of AL residences providing dementia care continues to increase. The purpose of this article is to describe and compare demographic characteristics; frequency and type of psychiatric diagnoses; level of cognition, depression, and anxiety symptoms; and use of psychotropic medication among older adults in dementia-specific assisted living (DSAL) and traditional assisted living (TAL) residences. Secondary analysis of screening data collected during a cross-sectional, descriptive pilot project compared 18 participants from two DSAL facilities and 28 participants from three TAL facilities. DSAL participants with dementia were more cognitively impaired than TAL participants with dementia (p < 0.001) and used more antipsychotic (67%), anxiolytic (60%), antidepressant (53%), and cognitive-enhancing (87%) medications. No statistically significant differences in demographic factors or levels of anxiety or depression were observed among residents in either setting.Address correspondence to Hyunwook Kang, PhD, RN, The University of Iowa College of Nursing, 50 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242; hyunwook-kang@uiowa.edu. The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity. NIH Public AccessAuthor Manuscript J Gerontol Nurs. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 December 21. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptAssisted living (AL) residences are a rapidly growing segment of the long-term care (LTC) continuum selected by older adults and their families. Currently, AL residences serve more than 1 million older adults, and that number is expected to continue to increase (ArehartTreichel, 2003). During the past 10 years, an increasing body of AL research has identified a number of issues and concerns related to the care of older adults with dementia in this setting (Hawes, Rose, & Phillips, 1999;R.A. Kane, Chan, & R.L. Kane, 2007;Lewin-VHI, Inc., 1996;Rosenblatt et al., 2004;Schulz, 2005;. Ironically, many of the same features that make AL attractive to older adults, including increased privacy, choice, and the absence of federally determined care policies that permit a more homelike and less "institutional" climate, have raised important questions about the adequacy of AL care for those with cognitive impairment and/or dementia diagnoses.Perhaps the most important issue is that individuals with dementia regularly seek AL as a housing alternative, whether or not dementia-specific services are in place. Estimates of dementia among AL residents range from 34% to 68% (Hawes, Phillips, Rose, Holan, & Sherman, 2003;Rosenblatt et al., 2004). The variability in rates is often attributed to the method used to identify dementia, which has included surveys of AL administrators who estimate rates (Hawes et al., 1999), direct assessment by researchers using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (Folstein, Folstein, & McHu...

This study found that RNs in geriatric hospitals perceived that interpreting and understanding research reports in English was the greatest barrier to the use of research findings. Administrators and nurse managers of geriatric hospitals need to provide RNs with opportunities to participate in research-related activities and to empower RNs in order to facilitate research utilization.