Spatial Planning Indicators for Elderly Welfare Facilities - In-Depth User Interviews with a Focus on Community Sustainable Living -

As Korea society, housing welfare issues for the elderly are becoming ever more prominent. In 2015, the government combined the provision of housing and welfare services for pensioners through the Senior Welfare Housing Project, allowing the elderly to enjoy their retirement years, living together in the community. The purpose of this study is to identify user-centered planning elements for the spatial design of welfare facilities for senior housing and to offer recommendations for enhancing spatial planning to support sustained community living in the future. The research method is an in-depth interview survey, and the subjects are a total of 24 seniors who use senior welfare housing welfare facilities in rural and urban areas. The overall usage status, needs, issues, and problems were investigated and analyzed. First, it is believed that senior welfare housing welfare facilities are well-established and allow seniors form communities to interact with neighbors. Second, the interview results showed that experiences at welfare facilities are not regional differences, but rather differ depending on the degree of a resident’s physical independence, the type of residence, and the purpose of use. Third, by utilizing the existing spatial planning indicators of the community's continued residence perspective, a new planning indicator reflecting the user’s perspective was derived. By providing a future improvement plan for welfare facilities in senior housing through this study, it is anticipated that accessibility within the local community will be crucial, allowing these facilities to serve as a key hub for medical and welfare services for the elderly. Most importantly, a comprehensive plan that integrates life, medical, and care services in a connected and holistic manner is necessary to meet the evolving needs of senior residents.