고령자가 인지하는 지역환경의 고령친화정도 - 일본 나가사키 지역의 물리적 환경을 중심으로 -

김수영 ( Kim Soo Young ),배용준 ( Bae Yong Jun ),오찬옥 ( Oh Chan Ohk ) 디자인융복합학회 2016 디자인융복합연구 Vol.15 No.5

본 연구는 일본 나가사키시 지역에 거주하는 고령자가 거주지역의 물리적환경을 어느 정도 고령친화적이라고 인지하고 있으며 이는 고령자의 특성에 따라 어떠한 차이를 보이는지를 파악하기 위한 것이다. 조사대상은 일본나가사키시에 거주하는 60세 이상 고령자 96명이었으며 조사내용은 고령자와 관련된 근린생활시설의 위치와, 보행로, 교통, 노인공동주택의 제공정도, 주택 내부공간, 주택 내부공간의 휠체어 사용편리성의 5개 영역으로 구성된 지역환경의 고령친화도이다. 자료수집은 일대일 면접조사방법으로 하였다. 조사결과, 첫째, 고령자의 일상생활과 밀접한 관련이 있는 대부분의 근린생활시설들이 도보거리 내에 있거나 버스로 10분 이내의 비교적 가까운 거리내에 위치하고 있었다. 둘째, 지역환경의 5개 영역 중 교통환경과 주택 내부공간, 보행로 영역은 전반적으로 고령친화적으로 되어 있는 반면 노인주택의 제공정도와 주택 내부공간의 휠체어 사용편리성은 다소 미흡하였다. 셋째, 조사대상 고령자의 특성 중 성별과 학력에 따라서는 지역환경의 고령친화도에 대한 인지가 유의미하게 차이를 보였다. The study examined how age-friendly their living environments the aged perceived and it’s significant difference depending on their characteristics. The subject were 96 old persons who aged more than 60 years and lived in Nagasaki city, Japan. They asked how far each neighborhood facility related to the aged was located from their houses, and the age-friendliness of walk way, traffic, multi-family houses for the aged, and interior space of their living houses. Data were collected by using one to one interview. Results were as follows: 1) Most neighborhood facilities related to the aged were located within a walking distance or 10 min. distance by bus from their houses. 2) Among 5 areas of living environments, while traffic, house interior, and pedestrians road were relatively age-friendly, the amount of multi-unit dwellings for the elderly and the usability of wheelchair users in house interior were not age-friendly. 3) Age and education level of the aged influenced on the age-friendliness of their living environments.

노화사실인지정도와 노화불안에 대한 연구

김화선,양정남,최은정 한국정신건강사회복지학회 2009 정신보건과 사회사업 Vol. No.

The purpose of this study is to examine the degree of aging anxiety, knowledge about aging and the influencing factors on aging anxiety. For this study, the data was collected using a structured questionnaire which included Aging Anxiety Scale: AAS from Lasher & Faulkender (1993) and Kyung san scale, knowledge of aging. The data was collected from 335 University students and adults from Gwangju and Junnam area. The data was analysis using SPSS 12.0. The results of this study was analyzed as follows; First, the average score of the participants for knowledge on aging was 58.9% The participants were an adult group whose score was lower than the social workers(65.3%) and nurses group(65.5%). Second, the average score of the participants for aging anxiety was 2.80 out of 5.00. The sub score shows that fear of elderly among participants was 2.77, fear of loss was 3.11, fear of psychological instability was 2.2, fear of physical appearance was 2.98. Third, the result showed that differences between aging anxiety and general characteristics was that sex, age, level of education, education on aging, volunteering experience of working with elderly. Fourth, the study revealed that there was a negative correlation between aging anxiety and knowledge on aging. This fact implied that the greater ones knowledge on aging the lower the aging anxiety. Fifth, this study showed that knowledge on aging and volunteering experience working with elderly was a most influential factor towards participant's anxiety about aging. In conclusion, an integrated education programmes which included lectures and volunteer activities should be developed to reduce anxiety about aging and improve quality of elderly care. 본 연구의 목적은 대상자의 노화불안 수준과 노화사실인지정도를 파악하여, 노화불안에 영향을 미치는 요인을 규명하기 위함이다. 연구 대상자는 광주 ․ 전남지역에 거주하는 대학생과 일반성인 335명으로, 수집된 질문지 중 312부를 최종분석에 사용하였다. 본 연구에서 사용한 도구는 Lasher & Faulkender(1993)의 노화불안 척도(Aging Anxiety Scale: AAS)의 20문항 중 19문항과 윤진 ․ 조석미(1982)의 경산노화사실인지척도 24문항을 수정하여 사용하였다. 연구결과를 정리하면, 첫째, 대상자의 노화사실 인지정도의 정답률은 58.9%로 선행연구에서 나타난 사회복지사(65.3%), 간호사(65.0%)보다 낮게 나타났다. 둘째, 대상자의 노화불안은 5점 만점 척도에서 2.80점으로 나타났고, 하위영역별로는 노인에 대한 두려움이 2.77점, 상실에 대한 두려움이 3.11점, 심리적 불안정이 2.20점, 신체적 외모에 대한 두려움이 2.98점으로 나타났다. 셋째, 대상자의 일반적 특성에 따른 노화불안의 차이는 성별, 연령, 학력, 노인복지 관련 과목 이수경험, 향후 노인관련 업무 희망 여부, 노인대상 자원봉사 경험 유무에 따라 총노화불안이나 하위영역별로 유의미한 차이가 나타났다. 넷째, 노화사실인지정도와 노화불안 사이에 부적상관관계가 나타났고, 이를 통해서 노화사실인지정도가 높을수록 노화불안이 낮아짐을 알 수 있다. 다섯째, 노화불안에 영향을 미치는 요인을 분석한 결과, 노화사실인지정도와 자원봉사경험이 가장 큰 영향 요인으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 노화불안을 감소시키기 위한 노화사실인지 교육의 필요성과 자원봉사 프로그램 개발을 위한 논의를 시도하였다.

연령대의 차이가 체성감각 기능과 손 기능에 미치는 영향

최종환(Jong Hwan Choi),노기택(Ki Taek Rho) 한국발육발달학회 2008 한국발육발달학회지 Vol.16 No.3

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different ages on somatosensory function and hand function. Volunteer subjects were 4 age groups: 20 age group(n=33; age=22.67±2.63), 40 age group (n=30; age=44.27±2.53), 60 age group(n=27; age=66.85±1.77), 70 age group(n=30; age=74.23±3.25). The subjects who joined this investigation were asked to participate in somatosensory evoked potentials test and Purdue Pegboard test. For data analysis, mean and standard deviation scores were calculated, and one-way ANOVA(with Scheff) were used. The result of this study were as follow: First, as subjects were aged, somatosensory function and hand function were declined. Second, although they had been influenced by aging on these functions, they showed similar performance patterns on these functions until certain ages. And then, as they became older than 60 years, their functions declined off rapidly. Finally, having their somatosensory function and hand function showed similar performance patterns, this study implies that these functions may be significantly related to each other.

Adaptive Macro-scopic Pattern을 이용한 나이 인식

강승훈(SeungHoon Kang),류병용(Byungyong Ryu),송기훈(Gihun Song),채옥삼(Oksam Chae) 대한전자공학회 2017 전자공학회논문지 Vol.54 No.11

나이 특징을 적절하게 기술하는 방법은 얼굴 영상으로부터 나이를 인식하는 연구에 매우 중요한 요소다. 하지만 여전히 나이 변화로 나타나는 얼굴 영상의 특징(얼굴 형태 변화, 주름, 잡티 등)에 특화된 기술 방법이 거의 없다. 이와 같은 문제점을 해결하기 위해 본 논문에서는 지역 패턴 기술 방법의 하나로 Adaptive Macro-Scopic Pattern (AMSP)을 제안했다. 제안된 방법은 나이 인식에 중요한 얼굴 특징 변화를 기존 지역 패턴 방법들보다 효과적으로 기술할 수 있다. 본 논문은 나이 인식에 매주 중요한 영역의 텍스처를 분석해서 Age-Primitives로 정의하고 이를 효과적으로 기술하도록 했다. 제안된 방법은 얼굴 형태 변화, 주름을 잘 기술 할 수 있는 기존 에지 기반 패턴 기술 방법의 장점을 취하면서 나이 인식에 중요하지 않은 영역에서 발생하는 패턴으로 인해 인식률이 떨어지는 기존 에지 기반 패턴 기술 방법의 단점을 극복했다. 본 논문에서는 제안된 방법의 성능을 입증하기 위해 AMSP를 이용한 나이 그룹 인식(Age group recognition)과 나이 추정(Age estimation) 성능을 테스트했다. 그 결과 제안된 AMSP 방법이 기존 방법보다 매우 뛰어난 성능을 보여주었다. Properly describing age features is a very important factor in age recognition from facial images. However, there are few methods specialized for the features appearing as age change in facial images (facial shape change, wrinkles, dullness, etc.). To solve these issues, we proposed a local face descriptor, Adaptive Macro-Scopic Pattern (AMSP). The proposed method can more effectively describe features, which are critical for age recognition than existing local descriptors. In this paper, we define the Age-Primitives by analyzing most aging related texture, and describe them effectively. The proposed method not only takes advantage of existing edge-based descriptions which can represent changes of facial shapes and wrinkle well, but also, overcome disadvantages of existing edge-based descriptions for age recognition, which generate pattern on unimportant textures for age recognition. In this paper, we have tested the performance of the proposed method, AMSP, using age group recognition and age estimation. As a result, the proposed AMSP showed much better performance than existing methods.

노화의 기전과 예방

김재식,Kim, Jay Sik 대한면역학회 2001 Immune Network Vol.1 No.2

Aging is a senescence and defined as a normal physiologic and structural alterations in almost all organ systems with age. As Leonard Hayflick, one of the first gerontologists to propose a theory of biologic aging, indicated that a theory of aging or longevity satisfies the changes of above conditions to be universal, progressive, intrinsic and deleterious. Although a number of theories have been proposed, it is now clear that cell aging (cell senescence) is multifactorial. No single mechanism can account for the many varied manifestations of biological aging. Many theories have been proposed in attempt to understand and explain the process of aging. Aging is effected in individual by genetic factors, diet, social conditions, and the occurrence of age-related diseases as diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis. It involves an endogenous molecular program of cellular senescence as well as continuous exposure throughout life to adverse exogenous influences, leading to progressive infringement on the cell's survivability so called wear and tear. So we could say the basic mechanism of aging depends on the irreversible and universal processes at cellular and molecular level. The immediate cause of these changes is probably an interference in the function of cell's macromolecules-DNA, RNA, and cell proteins-and in the flow of information between these macromolecules. The crucial questions, unanswered at present, concerns what causes these changes in truth. Common theories of aging are able to classify as followings for the easy comprehension. 1. Biological, 1) molecular theories - a. error theory, b. programmed aging theory, c. somatic mutation theory, d. transcription theory, e. run-out-of program theory, 2) cellular theories - a. wear and tear theory, b. cross-link theory, c. clinker theory, d. free radical theory, e. waste product theory, 3) system level theory-a. immunologic/autoimmune theory, 4) others - a. telomere theory, b. rate of living theory, c. stress theory, etc. Prevention of aging is theoretically depending on the cause or theory of aging. However no single theory is available and no definite method of delaying the aging process is possible by this moment. The most popular action is anti-oxidant therapy using vitamin E and C, melatonin and DHEA, etc. Another proposal for the reverse of life-span is TCP-17 and IL-16 administration from the mouse bone marrow B cell line study for the immunoglobulin VDJ rearrangement with RAG-1 and RAG-2. Recently conclusional suggestion for the extending of maximum life-span thought to be the calory restriction.

고령사회의 노인의 사회참여를 위한 교회의 역할

손의성 ( Sohn Eui Seong ) 한국교회교육·복지실천학회 2019 교회교육·복지실천 연구 Vol.2 No.1

유래를 찾기 어려울 정도로 빠르게 고령사회에 진입한 한국사회는 고령화에 대한 충분한 대비 없이 고령사회를 직면하게 되었다. 그런데 고령사회는 과거의 부정적인 노화 패러다임이 아닌 활동적 노화 패러다임에 기반한 사회이다. 활동적 노화에 기반한 고령사회는 노년층의 적극적인 사회참여를 지향하고 있다. 이러한 사회적 변화에 대해 한국교회는 고령사회에 대한 효과적인 대응을 위해 활동적 노화에 기반한 노인의 사회참여를 증진할 수 있는 대안을 마련할 필요가 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 고령사회를 맞이하여 노인의 사회참여의 중요성이 부각되고 있는 시대적 요구에 따라 노인의 사회참여를 활성화하기 위한 교회의 역할을 모색하고자 한다. 이러한 연구목적을 위해 먼저, 교회의 노인사역의 필요성을 검토하였으며, 고령사회에서 노인 사역을 위해 교회가 갖추어야 할 조건을 제시하였다. 마지막으로 노인들의 사회참여를 위한 교회의 역할을 모색하기 위해 조직 및 전달체계, 친교활동, 여가활동, 종교활동, 교육활동, 봉사활동, 연령통합 및 지역통합 사역 등 7개 영역으로 구분하여, 영역별로 노인의 사회참여를 위한 교회의 역할을 구체적으로 제시하였다. 이 연구 결과를 통해 교단 본부 및 개교회는 미시적, 중간적, 거시적 차원에서 고령사회에서의 노인의 사회참여 활성화를 위한 실천적 기반을 마련함으로써 한국교회의 시대적 사명을 다할 수 있게 되기를 기대한다. The Korean society, which entered the aged society quickly enough to find its origins, faced an aged society without sufficient preparation for aging. Aged society is not a society based on negative paradigm for aging but a society based on the new paradigm, active aging. Active aging society is aiming aggressive social participation of the elderly. In order to respond effectively to the aged society, the Korean church needs to prepare alternatives to encourage social participation of the elderly based on active aging. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find out the role of the church in encouraging the social participation of the elderly according to the needs of the aged society. For this research purpose, the necessity of the elder ministry of the church was examined first, and the preconditions for the ministry for the elderly in the aged society were presented. Finally, in order to find out the role of the church for encouraging social participation of the elderly, I divided into 7 domains such as organizing ministry team for the elderly and service delivery system, koinonia activities, leisure activities, religious activities, educational activities, volunteer activities, and have presented the role of the church for social participation of the elderly in each domain. In this study, I hope that Korean churches will be able to fulfill the mission for the elderly by establishing a practical foundation for activating the elderly’s social participation in the aged society at the micro, intermediate and macro level.

高齡化 社會와 人口老齡化의 實態에 關한 考察

吳炳根 서울大學校保健大學院 1991 國民保健硏究所硏究論叢 Vol.1 No.2

Aging society is rapidly progressing. According to the population projections prepared by the National Statistical office, the aging of the population of Korea would be dramatic and probably imprecedented in its speed. In the year 1960, the population aged 65 years and over showed only 3.3% of the total population. In 1990, it becomes 4.7%. According to the above projections, however, it will rise to 6.4% in the year of 2000 and to 12.5% in the year 2020. The old age dependency ratio was only definitely become the first population and social problem in Korea. The present paper describes the demographic aspects of the aging process of Korea and its implications in the fields of economic support of the aged population and of family structure, and the increase of the social security. One of the Korean solutions of aging problems is a capability of domestic care of old parents by their grown-up sons and daughters. But, today, it is not absolutely sure whether such a model can still be effective in the face of the rise of individualism, the enhancement of the status of women and the process of westernization. Finally, the paper presents some of the alternations of how to face and solve the problems of population aging. It discusses a possibility of extending retirement age, initiation of saving in earlier ages, ways of becoming self-independent in economic and social life among the aged, smoother intergenerational transfer of wealth, etc. At the same time, the paper cites some merits of the aging society, particularly low mortality which together with low fertility makes best utilization of human resources.

Age-dependent dichotomous effect of superoxide dismutaseAla16Val polymorphism on oxidized LDL levels

George V. Dedoussis,Stavroula Kanoni,Eirini Louizou,Efi Grigoriou,Christina Chrysohoou,Christos Pitsavos,Christodoulos Stefanadis,Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos 생화학분자생물학회 2008 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.40 No.1

We investigated the association between superoxide dismutase (SOD) Ala16Val polymorphism and the levels of oxidized LDL lipoprotein-C (ox-LDL-C) in two age-different Greek cohorts. Four hundred fifteen middle- aged (n = 147 females: 43.2 ± 13 years, n = 268 males: 43.3 ± 14 years) Caucasian Greek subjects consisted the middle aged cohort. One hundred seventy five elderly (n = 88 females: 79.9 ± 4 years; n = 87 males: 80.6 ± 4 years) were selected from the elderly cohort. Genotype data were obtained for all of them. Multiple linear regression analysis, stratified by gender and adjusted for age, smoking habits and body mass index as covariates, showed higher ox-LDL-C levels for the middle aged men with the Val/Val genotype, compared to the other allele (Ala/Ala and Ala/Val) carriers (65.9 ± 25.7 vs. 55.7 ± 20.5 mg/dl; standardized β coefficient = 0.192, P = 0.012). On the contrary, elderly women with the Val/Val genotype occurred with lower ox-LDL-C levels compared to the Ala/Ala or Ala/Val genotype (74.2 ± 22.1 vs. 86.5 ± 26.6 mg/dl; standardized β coefficient = -0.269, P = 0.015). The same trend was also recorded in elderly men, however without reaching statistical signifi significance (standardized β coefficient = -0.187, P = 0.077). Moreover, elderly men and women with the Ala/Ala or Ala/Val genotype presented higher triglycerides levels compared to Val/Val (women: 145.2 ± 68.7 vs. 114.3 ± 34.3 mg/dl, P = 0.027; men: 147.8 ± 72.4 vs. 103.7 ± 38.0 mg/dl, P = 0.002). Additionally, middle aged men with the Val/Val genotype had higher HDL-C levels compared to the Ala allele carriers. The results suggest that SOD Ala16Val polymorphism is an age-dependent modulator of ox-LDL-C levels in middle-aged men and elderly women. We investigated the association between superoxide dismutase (SOD) Ala16Val polymorphism and the levels of oxidized LDL lipoprotein-C (ox-LDL-C) in two age-different Greek cohorts. Four hundred fifteen middle- aged (n = 147 females: 43.2 ± 13 years, n = 268 males: 43.3 ± 14 years) Caucasian Greek subjects consisted the middle aged cohort. One hundred seventy five elderly (n = 88 females: 79.9 ± 4 years; n = 87 males: 80.6 ± 4 years) were selected from the elderly cohort. Genotype data were obtained for all of them. Multiple linear regression analysis, stratified by gender and adjusted for age, smoking habits and body mass index as covariates, showed higher ox-LDL-C levels for the middle aged men with the Val/Val genotype, compared to the other allele (Ala/Ala and Ala/Val) carriers (65.9 ± 25.7 vs. 55.7 ± 20.5 mg/dl; standardized β coefficient = 0.192, P = 0.012). On the contrary, elderly women with the Val/Val genotype occurred with lower ox-LDL-C levels compared to the Ala/Ala or Ala/Val genotype (74.2 ± 22.1 vs. 86.5 ± 26.6 mg/dl; standardized β coefficient = -0.269, P = 0.015). The same trend was also recorded in elderly men, however without reaching statistical signifi significance (standardized β coefficient = -0.187, P = 0.077). Moreover, elderly men and women with the Ala/Ala or Ala/Val genotype presented higher triglycerides levels compared to Val/Val (women: 145.2 ± 68.7 vs. 114.3 ± 34.3 mg/dl, P = 0.027; men: 147.8 ± 72.4 vs. 103.7 ± 38.0 mg/dl, P = 0.002). Additionally, middle aged men with the Val/Val genotype had higher HDL-C levels compared to the Ala allele carriers. The results suggest that SOD Ala16Val polymorphism is an age-dependent modulator of ox-LDL-C levels in middle-aged men and elderly women.

정상적인 노화 과정에서 국소뇌포도당대사의 변화 : FDG PET 연구

윤준기(Joon Kee Yoon),김상은(sang Eun Kim),이경한(Kyung Han Lee),최용(Yong Choi),최연성(Yearn Seong Choe),김병태(Byung Tae Kim) 대한핵의학회 2001 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.35 No.4

N/A Purpose: Normal aging results in detectable changes in the brain structure and function. We evaluated the changes of regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the normal aging process with FDG PET. Materials and Methods: Brain PET images were obtained in 44 healthy volunteers (age range 20-69 ‘y’: M:F = 29:15) who had no history of neuropsychiatric disorders. On 6 representative transaxial images, Rols were drawn in the cortical and subcortical areas. Regional FDG uptake was normalized using whole brain uptake to adjust for the injection dose and correct for nonspecific declines of glucose metabolism affecting all brain areas equally. Results: In the prefrontal, temporoparietal and primary sensorimotor cortex, the normalized FDG uptake (NFU) reached a peak in subjects in their 30s. The NFU in the prefrontal and primary sensorimotor cortex declined with age after 30s at a rate of 3.15%/decade and 1.93%/decade, I'6Spectively. However, the NFU in the temporoparietal cortex did not change significantly with age after 30s. The anterior (prefrontal) posterior (temporoparietal) gradient peaked in subjects in their 30s and declined with age thereafter at a rate of 2.35%/decade. The NFU in the caudate nucleus was decreased with age after 20s at a rate of 2.39%/decade. In the primary visual cortex, putamen, and thalamus, the NFU values did not change significantly throughout the ages covered. These patterns were not significantly different between right and left cerebral hemispheres. Of interest was that the NFU in the left cerebellar cortex was increased with age after 20s at a rate of 2.86%/decade. Conclusion: These data demonstrate regional variation of the age-related changes in the cerebral glucose metabolism, with the most prominent age-related decline of metabolism in the prefrontal cortex. The increase in the cerebellar metabolism with age might reflect a process of neuronal plasticity associated with aging. (Korean J Nucl Med 2001;35:231-240)

AAL의 개념 및 사례분석을 통한 고령친화적 공간계획방향 도출 연구

최영준 ( Choi Young Jun ),배시화 ( Bae Si Hwa ) 한국기초조형학회 2016 기초조형학연구 Vol.17 No.4

현재 우리나라의 고령화는 급격하게 진행되어 이미 고령사회에 접어들었으며, 앞으로의 고령화 속도는 매우 빠를 것으로 예상되고 있다. 특히 2020년 후에는 고령인구의 비율이 15%를 넘어서 고령자들의 주거문제는 그 중요성이 더욱 커질 것으로 예상된다. 이에 대응하여 해외에서는 고령자 일상생활의 질을 향상시키고 나아가 육체 건강의 유지 및 관리, 사회적 소통을 통한 정신 건강의 증진을 위해 일상생활에 AAL이라는 통합적 개념을 도입하여 다양한 프로그램들과 사업들을 계획·시도하고 있다. 이러한 AAL개념이 구체화되고 보편적으로 상용화된다면 세계적 현상인 고령화로 인한 노인문제와 주거복지향상에 큰 도움을 줄 것으로 기대된다. 이를 위해 본 연구에서는 먼저 고령 사회의 노인문제에 대한 대안으로써 AAL의 개념 및 사례들에 대해 고찰하였다. AAL이란 Ambient Assisted Living의 약자로서 Ambient Intelligence 즉, 첨단 기술과 Assisted Living이라는 일상생활 보조 서비스가 더해진 주거, 사회 서비스의 분야적 특성이 조합되어 나타난 신조어이자 복합적인 개념이다. 또한, 고령자와 그 중 대다수라 추정되는 만성질환자 또는 고위험군을 대상으로 일상적인 공간 범위에서 의료서비스의 적절한 개입과 생활 지원 서비스의 수행 및 각종 정보의 제공과 수집을 통해 고령 사회의 액티브 에이징을 실현하는 도구로서의 개념이다. 일찍이 고령화가 진행되고 있는 EU 국가들을 중심으로 추진되고 있는 AAL Joint Programme은 ‘건강한 노년을 위한 정보통신기술``이란 모토로 고령자의 헬스케어와 연관된 연구를 지원하고 산업체와 연결하여 다양한 성과들이 도출되고 있다. 이들은 AAL을 통해 액티브 에이징을 실현한다는 목표 하에 건강의 세 가지 차원, 즉 육체적, 사회적, 정신적 차원에서 고령자의 건강한 삶을 도모하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 액티브 에이징을 위해서는 활동력이 있을 때 일정 수준 이상의 활동량을 유지하기 위해 노력해야 하는 것이다. AAL의 관점에서 이것은 현관문의 개폐횟수 및 시간에 의해 간접적인 모니터링을 통해 지원할 수 있다. 한편, 낙상에 의한 골절은 활기찬 노년을 영위함에 있어 가장 큰 장애요인 중 하나이다. 낙상사고는 언제든지 발생할 수 있지만, 특히 근력, 균형감각 등의 운동능력이 저하될수록 발생위험이 높다. 이러한 운동능력은 보폭과 보행속도를 통해 간접적으로 가늠할 수 있는데, 이것은 건축공간이라면 필연적으로 발을 딛고 서 있는 바닥에 압력센서를 장착함으로써 모니터링이 가능하다. 이상의 AAL은 기술이 제공하는 편익을 누리면서도 기술이 구현된 기기와의 대면은 최소화함으로써 공간환경에서의 인간성을 회복할 수 있는 중요한 단서를 제공한다. The Korean national population is aging at a rapid rate, with the Korean society already having become an aged society, and expected by the year 2020, to have the aged population exceed 15 percent of the total population. With this change, housing for the aged becomes an important issue. In foreign aged societies, various programs and industries are being initiated under a multi-disciplinary framework known as AAL, with aims to enhance the quality of life of the aged, supported by their physical and social/mental well-being. AAL, once materialized, is expected to provide a breakthrough in the challenges that are cast by general aging of the population. This study reviews the concept and examples of AAL as a solution to the common issues that an aged society faces. AAL is an acronym for Ambient Assisted Living, which in turn is a synthesis of Ambient Intelligence, a technical term, and Assisted Living, as a mode of serviced living. Also, it is the means to promote active aging of the aged and thus likely with chronic conditions through the intervention of healthcare, and provision of assistive services and information. In Europe, where its nations have already been facing the challenges of the aged society, a research funding program known as the AAL-Joint Programme, has been established under the motto ``ICT for aging well`` and has delivered various solutions of AAL. It was found that such AAL solutions respond to the three dimensions of health; physical, social and mental. To live an active life, it is most important that one stays active when they are physically capable of doing so. From an AAL perspective, this can be supported through monitoring the frequency and pattern of the entrance door being opened and closed. Also, as fractures from falling are major threats to active aging, solutions to predict and prevent their occurance are required. This can be done ambiently by monitoring ones balance and muscular strength of his or her legs while walking on floors with pressure sensors embedded. Such AAL solutions have significance in that they assist the individuals while minimizing the need for interacting with devices, ultimately restoring humanity in the living environment.