This study analyzed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Age-Friendly Cities Guide to observe its role in embodying social inclusion of older adults in attempts to prevent social exclusion. Social exclusion refers to the marginalization of individuals and groups from important economic and social opportunities in the society. Many aging societies are implementing social inclusion of older adults as one of their key policy agendas to create a more sustainable and healthy society, in recognition that age functions as one of the essential factors accelerating social exclusion and declining physical and mental health of those affected. In order to explore the pertinence of the WHO guidelines to social inclusion of older adults, content analysis was conducted on each checklist item in the WHO guideline to identify its relation to the four dimensions of social exclusion, which are social interaction, production, consumption, and political engagement. The results showed comprehensive coverage of each dimension by the guideline, although the relative importance of each dimension was unequal. Additional insights were suggested to promote further social inclusion of older adults in the context of an age-friendly environment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of health literacy of adults living in South Korea and identify factors associated with health literacy in different age groups. Using a quota sampling method, authors recruited 1,000 Korean adults age 20 years and older. Health literacy was measured by using three items selected from a 16-question self-report health literacy measure. In accordance with Andersen's behavioral model, predisposing, enabling, and need factors were included in the multiple regression model. Age differences were found in health literacy levels; specifically, lower health literacy was associated with older age. For the 20 through 44-year age group, health literacy was positively associated with having private health insurance and higher self-rated health status. For the 45 through 64 and the 65 and over age groups, education was positively associated with health literacy. For the oldest age group, gender also had a positive association with health literacy. Lower levels of depression were significantly linked to a higher level of health literacy across all ages. This study illustrates ways to increase health literacy among different age groups and prioritizes target intervention groups in an effort to reduce health disparities.

The purposes of this study were: (i) to compare the extent of depression in the nursing home and community-dwelling elderly people, and (ii) to find the variables including residential status and other related variables explaining depression in Korea. Two sets of secondary data were combined and used to achieve the objectives of this study. One data set relating to elderly people in nursing homes was from a part of 2002 Kyunggi Long-term Care System Construction Study by Kyunggi Research Institute, Kyunggi province, Korea. The other data set for community-dwelling elderly people was from a part of 2001 National Long-term Care Study by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. The data set for this study included 307 elderly people living in nursing homes and 166 elderly people living in the community. Depression was measured and determined using the geriatric depression scale-short form (GDS-SF) Korean version, with scores of 8 or higher to indicate possible depression. A total of 39.3%[95% confidence interval (CI); 32.1-46.9%] of the sample in the community elderly showed symptoms of depression, higher than the rate found in the nursing home elderly (24.0%) (95% CI; 19.5-29.2%). The mean (standard deviation) GDS-SF score for the elderly in the nursing home was 6.1 (3.4), and 7.4 (4.3) for elderly in the community, the difference being statistically significant [t (275.5) = -3.33; P < 001]. As a result of multiple logistic regression analysis, residential status has appeared as an important predictor after controlling other related variables. The adjusted odds ratio of depression associated with the nursing home residents in residential status, all other factors being equal, was 3.14 (95% CI; 1.30-7.58). Community-dwelling elderly people have higher odds of depression. These findings suggest that there is a need to provide adequate health-related care services for the elderly people in the community.

Objectives: In this study, we examined (1) group differences with regard to age-friendly environments (AFE), loneliness, and depressive symptoms among younger, middle-aged, and older Korean adults; (2) the relationship of AFE to loneliness and depressive symptoms; and (3) the mediating effect of loneliness on the relationship between AFE and depressive symptoms among three Korean adult groups. Method: We used a cross-sectional survey design featuring multistage quota sampling. Study participants were 1,017 Korean adults aged 18 years or older. Multi-group structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Results: Statistically significant age group differences were found in the mean values of loneliness and depressive symptoms, but no significant age group differences in the mean values of AFE were observed. Older adults showed a significant relationship between AFE and loneliness, while their younger counterparts demonstrated a significant relationship between AFE and depressive symptoms. The mediating effect of loneliness on the association between AFE and depressive symptoms was found only for the older age group. Conclusion: The results of the study contribute to the existing understanding of AFE and mental health among Korean adults, while providing service providers and policy makers with fundamental background information on alleviating depression.

The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between age-friendly environment, social support, sense of community, and loneliness of Korean adults aged 45 and above.A total of 590 pa...