SILVER FRIEND: A SMART SPEAKER PROJECT TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME OLDER ADULTS LIVING ALONE IN SOUTH KOREA

Abstract Ownership rate of smart speakers in the U.S. reaches 21 percent in late 2018, and the growth of the global market is predicted to explode in the coming years. With this trend, there is an increasing expectation that smart speakers can assist older adults to stay independently in their homes as they age. However, there still is a shortage of empirical studies and evidence that these devices can actually be effective in helping older adults age in place. This paper describes a pilot project, Silver Friend, in South Korea, which utilizes a smart speaker, NUGU, to help low income older adults who live alone remain their homes as actively and safely as possible. The Silver Friend project has largely two goals: 1) reducing the older adults’ loneliness and 2) improving emergency response via the NUGU’s voice recognition and data monitoring system. Initially, the project served 90 older adults who live alone in government-purchased rental housing. This project was a result of a public-private partnership led by a South Korean tech/telecom giant, SK Corporation, practicing its corporate social responsibility. In South Korea, 15 percent of the population is age 65 and older, and 20 percent of them (approximately 1.5 million older adults) are living alone and/or in need of financial assistance. With the ever-expanding global market for smart speakers, this paper focusing on a case in South Korea describes evidence and a potential policy model in utilizing a smart speaker to help achieve the goal of aging in place.

Download Full-text

Food insecurity and depressive symptoms of older adults living alone in South Korea

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x18000429 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (9) ◽

pp. 2042-2058 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

YOUNGMI KIM ◽

AELY PARK ◽

KYEONGMO KIM

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

South Korea ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Living Alone ◽

Financial Strain ◽

Ageing Population ◽

Effect Of Food ◽

The Relationship

ABSTRACTIn South Korea, the number of older adults living alone is rapidly increasing with the growth of the ageing population. Although there is some evidence of a link between financial strain and depression in this population, there is limited empirical evidence on the relationship between food insecurity and depression in older adults living alone despite the fact that they have a high prevalence of food insecurity and tend to seek food assistance. This study aims to investigate whether food insecurity explains depressive symptoms in Korean older adults living alone. We employed data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study collected from a large-scale national sample in South Korea. Our sample consisted of 815 older adults aged 65 or older who lived alone. Conducting ordinary least square regression analyses, we tested the main effect of food insecurity on depression and the interaction effect of food insecurity and low income. We found that the relationship between food insecurity and depressive symptoms differed by low-income status (b = 6.27, p = 0.047). The association was significant only in the low-income group (b = 1.37, p = 0.04). These findings suggest that protecting access to food may be a promising strategy to lessen depressive symptoms associated with financial strain among older adults living alone.

Download Full-text

How do low-income older women experience living in congregate housing? A qualitative study of housing welfare intervention for older adults living alone in South Korea

Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development ◽

10.1080/02185385.2017.1401957 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 15-26

Author(s):

Yujin Kim

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

South Korea ◽

Older Women ◽

Low Income ◽

Living Alone

Download Full-text

Influence of Leisure Competence and Level of Leisure Activity on Life Satisfaction in Low-Income Older Adults in Rural South Korea

Research in Gerontological Nursing ◽

10.3928/19404921-20170224-01 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 67-75

Author(s):

Jihea Choi ◽

Jung A. Choi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

South Korea ◽

Low Income ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Rural South

Download Full-text

Social Citizenship, Inequality and Homeownership. Postwar Perspectives from the North of Europe

Social Policy and Society ◽

10.1017/s1474746419000447 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 293-306

Author(s):

Jardar Sørvoll ◽

Viggo Nordvik

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Social Stratification ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Rental Housing ◽

Residential Property ◽

Housing Wealth ◽

Social Citizenship ◽

The North ◽

The Social ◽

Social Distribution

In this article, we analyse the social distribution of residential property in Norway post-1945 in light of the concept of social citizenship. Drawing on data from censuses and tax registers, we examine the social stratification of owner-occupation and housing wealth in a Nordic nation of homeowners. Our study shows that residential property and housing wealth is very unevenly distributed, and that the share of low-income homeowners decreased markedly after 1990. The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to three different conceptions of citizenship: the socio-liberal, the republican and the libertarian. Our main argument is that the falling rate of low-income owner-occupation constitutes an erosion of social citizenship viewed from the socio-liberal and republican conception of citizenship. This follows from theoretical arguments and empirical studies linking homeownership to positive welfare outcomes, such as civic engagement and social integration. The latter is arguably particularly true in some high-homeownership countries, such as Norway, where owner-occupation is the cultural norm and rental housing is associated with low quality and insecurity.

Download Full-text

Gender differences in the relationship between physical functioning and depressive symptoms in low-income older adults living alone

Nursing and Health Sciences ◽

10.1111/nhs.12119 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 381-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Eun Ju Lim

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Low Income ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Living Alone ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

INNOVATIONS IN HOME MODIFICATION RESEARCH: THE STATE OF THE ART

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2365 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S635-S635

Author(s):

Emily Nabors ◽

Mindy Renfro ◽

Jon Pynoos ◽

Sarah L Szanton ◽

Jon Sanford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Low Income ◽

Housing Stock ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Home Modification ◽

Institutional Settings ◽

Age In Place ◽

Joint Center ◽

Improve Service Delivery

Abstract The overwhelming preference of older adults is to stay in their homes for as long as possible (AARP). However, most housing lacks supportive features and presents barriers that jeopardize residents’ ability to successfully age in place. Only 1% of houses have five key features to ensure accessibility: no-step entry, single-floor living, lever door handles, accessible electrical controls, and extra-wide doors and hallways (Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies), making the vast majority unsuitable for persons who use wheelchairs and problematic for the growing number of people with activity limitations. Persons least likely to have such features in their homes need them the most: old-old, low income, frail, and residents in older housing stock. Although home modification can support people as their needs change and preclude the need to move, often to institutional settings, the majority of older adults lack these supports. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of home modification in health, safety, and cost effectiveness. This symposium will convene a panel of researchers to share evidence-base in home modification, recent cost-saving innovations including the CAPABLE Program, and policy change to improve service delivery.

Download Full-text

Is Cost of Living Related to Living Alone Among Older Persons? Evidence From the Elder Economic Security Standard Index

Journal of Family Issues ◽

10.1177/0192513x15606773 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 38 (17) ◽

pp. 2495-2511

Author(s):

Jan E. Mutchler ◽

Jiyoung Lyu ◽

Ping Xu ◽

Jeffrey A. Burr

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Low Income ◽

Metropolitan Areas ◽

Low Cost ◽

The United States ◽

Economic Security ◽

Living Alone ◽

Cost Of Living ◽

Standard Index ◽

Security Standard

This study examines whether the cost of living is related to the probability of living alone among unmarried persons age 65 years and older in the United States. Cost of living is measured at the metropolitan area level by the Elder Economic Security Standard Index, which takes into account geographic variability in cost of housing, food, transportation, and medical care. Using multilevel modeling, we find that higher cost of living is related to a lower likelihood of living alone net of personal resources. Results also show that the gap in the likelihood of living alone between high- and low-income older adults is slightly lessened in low-cost metropolitan areas. We conclude that the price of “purchasing privacy” is substantially higher in some metropolitan areas than in others. These findings inform policies designed to help older adults age in place.

Download Full-text

Challenges and Supports to Aging in Place in a Gentrifying Context

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3227 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 873-873

Author(s):

Manish Kumar ◽

Laura Richman

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Capital ◽

Affordable Housing ◽

Low Income ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Aging In Place ◽

Well Being ◽

Neighborhood Change ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Age In Place

Abstract Neighborhoods play a central role in healthy aging, with changes to neighborhoods having a profound impact on older adults’ ability to age in place. Using gentrification as an indicator of neighborhood change and applying the theoretical framework of the Environmental Press model (Lawton and Nahemow, 1973), this study examined the relationship between changing environments, affordable housing, and environmental attributes that support and hinder the health and well-being of older adults. A qualitative, case-study approach was used to interview low-income, majority Black older adults in a gentrifying area of Washington DC. 32 individuals (16 in non-profit and 16 in for-profit affordable housing) aged 55 and older participated in semi-structured interviews on perceptions of gentrification, neighborhood change, and challenges and supports to aging in place. Transcripts were then analyzed using the framework method of analysis. Although participants generally reported that gentrification improved their neighborhood’s built environment, many attributed it to a decline in social capital. Affordable housing provided an ability to age in place, though participants expressed uncertainty over their long-term ability to age in the context of continuing change. These findings suggest that while the physical changes accompanying gentrification may support older adults’ ability to age in place, its detrimental impact on social capital further increases their risk for social isolation. While affordable housing may enable older adults to age in place, fostering a greater sense of permanence and well-being will require additional policies that both increase accessibility to the physical amenities provided by gentrification and preserve older adults’ social capital.

Download Full-text

Rising Above the Flood: Emergency Management and Gerontological Social Work

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.214 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 65-66

Author(s):

Susanny Beltran ◽

Paola Luigi ◽

Nancy Kusmaul

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Work ◽

Emergency Management ◽

Natural Disasters ◽

Social Workers ◽

Low Income ◽

Adult Population ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Social Work Practice ◽

The Body

Abstract Older adults, particularly those from low-income communities, are disproportionately negatively affected by natural disasters. As the older adult population grows and natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity, social workers must consider their role in supporting the needs and safety of this population. Social workers practice in varied roles including policy advocate, service broker, and educator, all of which are crucial in disaster management. This systematic review summarizes the literature on the social work profession’s involvement with emergency management with older adults, and identifies gaps. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, authors searched AgeLine, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Social Work Abstracts for peer-reviewed publications between January 1, 2009 and March 1, 2020. Examples of the terms searched include social work*, respon*, prepar*, disaster, crisis, emergency, geriatrics and older adults. The initial searches yielded 298 publications. After removing duplicates and screening articles for relevance based on titles and abstracts, 21 publications were retained for full review. A total of 11 articles met inclusion criteria. The body of literature identified was small. The majority of the publications constituted conceptual papers, textbook reviews, and letters to editors requesting greater emphasis on emergency management. Only three empirical studies were identified. Broadly, the publications discussed: (1) policies and resources; (2) needs; (3) capacity across practice settings; and (4) interventions. Findings reveal an underdeveloped area of social work practice, and highlight opportunities for researchers and practitioners to define gerontological social workers’ role in emergency management and detail best practice guidelines.

Download Full-text