ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study were to find out the degree of memory decline and to confirm its correlated factors in old adults. METHOD: The subjects consisted of 68 old adults over the age 65 who living in Busan. Data were collected by the interview method, using a structured questionnaire and the testing method on the memory performance. RESULTS: The old adults' memory performances declined in tasks of immediately word recall, delayed word recall, and face recognition and increased slightly in word recognition over 2 years. However, there was only significant difference in delayed word recall task. The significant variables to predict memory decline were age, literacy, depression, locus, and strategy. CONCLUSION: The memory decline of old adults wasn't more serious problem than the perceived one. There needs to be some intervention programs to prevent memory decline for the elderly.