韓國 有料老人福祉施設의 改善方案에 關한 硏究

Abstract

This study is intended to examine the current condition of paid welfare facilities for the elderly, and povide possible improvements accordingly. The problematic consequencos of aging in Korea are due to the rapid increase of the old-age population, industrialization, urbanization, and the trend toward nuclear families. It was not until the Aged Welfare Law in 1981 that the measures on an institutional level were introduced, and as we entered into the 21st century old-age programs are conspicuously facing great demand with a variety of more complicated implications of aging. The Aged Welfare Law (subsection 2 of section 19) divides paid old-age welfare facilities into general facilities, facilities for medical treatment and residential facilities, and the respective need will be high for the foreseeable future considering the extended average life, and the nuclear structure and its debilitating role of families. Paid welfare facilities are expected to take a more active and solid part in maintaining primary fimctions of families with both quantitative and qualitative improvements. Specifically, they will provide services for the active participation in society and vaious materials for tearning as well as for basic everyday needs. With the objectives so mentioned the plans for reinforcing paid old-age welfare facilities will be: firstly, to consisecntly develop appropriate programs with the consideration of different physical emotional, and economic characteristics of the elderly people, secondly, to counsel and mediate as for the promotion of old-age welfare, such as health maintenance and effective utilization of leisure with secure financial support and professional human reseurces, thirdly, to provide cost-effetive facilities for the elderly of low-income class with alternatives to expensive charges. Moreover, paid welfare facilities run by a local administration will need to extend its scope to an entire community of the elderly people and take a central role of the welfare of its senile members. In order far old-age welfare to accomplish its goals combined govermental efforts with a streamlined administrative system and a well-organized department responsible for relevant tasks as well as private welfare organizations with professional kowledge and human resources will be required as a firm basis. Finally the focus of old-age welfare policy will need to be on developing and enforcing programs suited for the specific needs of the aged in a local community.