Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults are considered a high-risk group and have been advised to stay home or practice social distancing. This qualitative study examined the effects of strong quarantine measures and social distancing on older adults’ lifestyles. The participants in this study were 13 people aged 65 and older with chronic diseases who resided in South Korean communities. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to interpret the data collected from in-depth interviews. Four themes and 13 subthemes were identified. The four themes were “lifestyle changes,” “increased cautiousness in daily life,” “psychological changes,” and “adaptation to life during the COVID-19 pandemic.” The participants followed quarantine rules strictly and noted lifestyle changes, such as increased time spent at home due to social distancing guidelines, a smaller radius of daily activity, and changes in exercise and dietary habits. They also reported increased caution toward other people and objects that other people interacted with due to their fear of COVID-19 infection. They expressed fear about COVID-19 infection and anxiety about COVID-19-related news, and they often felt bored and depressed; however, the participants accepted, endured, and gradually adapted to these lifestyle changes. Non-face-to-face community support is urgently needed for older adults facing reduced levels of physical activity and psychological hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the increasing population of older adults, ageism is an obstacle to health equity and can negatively affect older adults’ quality of life and nursing care. This study aims to examine the level of ageism and the factors associated with ageism among nursing college students, who will become the main workforce for gerontological nursing. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 238 nursing students in two nursing colleges in South Korea. The total score for ageism was 37.06 (SD 5.94) out of a maximum of 72. In the multiple regression model, the predictors of ageism were aging anxiety (β = 0.420, p < 0.001), frequency of contact (β = −0.204, p < 0.001), preference for gerontological nursing (β = 0.150, p = 0.003), age (β = 0.145, p = 0.003), and quality of contact (β = −0.143, p = 0.030), revealing that these were factors influencing ageism in the evaluated nursing students. The results suggest that tailored gerontological education programs or community link programs in the nursing curriculum are necessary to share feelings of contact, increase positive experiences with older adults, and reduce anxiety about aging.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate occupational stress, frailty, sleep quality, and motives for food choices as key factors affecting the perceived health status among elderly workers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 175 participants at the Community Senior Club in an urban area. The data was collected from November to December 2018. Pearson’s correlation analyses were performed for perceived health status, occupational stress, sleep quality, and motives for food choices. Multivariate linear regression was adjusted for general characteristics such as age, gender, level of education, living arrangements, and the number of illnesses. Results: Occupational stress (r=−0.195, p<0.001), frailty (r=−0.468, p<0.001), and sleep quality scores (r=−0.306, p<0.001) showed significant negative correlations with perceived health status. Conversely, 5 motives for food choices (health, weight control, price, sensory appeal, and mood) were positively correlated with perceived health status. Linear regression analysis showed that occupational stress (β=−0.195, p<0.001), frailty (β=−0.420, p<0.001), and motives for food choices based on sensory appeal (β=0.240, p<0.001) were significant influencing factors for perceived health status. Conclusion: We found that occupational stress, frailty, and motives for food choices based on sensory appeal were significant factors for elderly worker health. This suggests that it is important to consider occupational stress, frailty, and motivation for food choices when examining the health of elderly workers. There is a need for more tailored health promotion interventions when considering these factors and the elderly population.

Background: In older adults, mobility is important for maintaining their independence and quality of life, and it influences their physical, cognitive, and social health. This study aimed to identify the physical and psychosocial factors that affected the mobility of community-dwelling older adults, aged 65 years or older, who were socially isolated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to stay-at-home policies. Methods: The participants in this study were 214 community-dwelling older adults in Korea, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021. Variables included participants’ general characteristics, mobility, sitting time, depression, social support, and cognitive function. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the factors influencing older adults’ mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic were depression (β=-0.29, p < .001), age (65–74 years old) (β = 0.19, p = .002), a lower level of education (β=-0.17, p = .006), two or more comorbidities (β=-0.18, p = .001), sitting time (β=-0.17, p = .004), and the ability to drive a vehicle (β = 0.14, p = .017). Conclusions: Home healthcare interventions are needed to limit psychosocial issues and improve mobility for older adults who had limited mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With population aging, increasingly many elderly individuals are expected to participate in economic activities. Elderly workers have a higher prevalence of multiple chronic diseases, making it necessary to examine elderly workers’ experiences of health-related self-management in work environments. This qualitative study investigated the meaning of work and health-related self-management experiences among elderly workers with multiple chronic diseases. The study participants were elderly workers residing in South Korea (65 years old or older) with at least two chronic diseases. Twelve participated in individual interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed. Qualitative content analysis was conducted with the transcribed data. Six themes, 21 sub-themes, and 40 codes were derived. The themes were “benefit of work on health and life”, “adaptation to a new work environment”, “endurance”, “continuous efforts to maintain health”, “difficulties in self-management”, and “requirements for health promotion”. The participants experienced difficulties in health-related self-management due to time constraints, poor work environment, and financial burdens. However, participants expressed their desire to invest effort into managing their physical and psychological health and to work as long as possible. Programs that consider the aging and health-related characteristics of elderly workers and their work environments should be developed and implemented.