Planning Elements of Smart Senior Centers as Integrated Elderly Care Facilities

This study analyzes smart senior center cases to identify architectural planning elements for integrated elderly care facilities. As Korea rapidly transitions into a super-aged society due to aging and population decline, smart senior centers equipped with ICT and AI technologies are being widely implemented to enhance welfare services, especially in rural areas where access to integrated elderly care facilities is limited. Through case studies of five smart senior centers recognized as successful cases by media reports, this research examines spatial characteristics, services/systems, and operational status to propose architectural planning elements. The findings suggest that smart senior centers should: 1) implement basic services (access control, integrated safety management, smart environment) as a priority, 2) select appropriate services and systems according to spatial scale and form, 3) consider community linkages in spatial planning, 4) ensure adequate entrance space for access management systems, 5) utilize open floor plans for customized leisure welfare services, 6) position health monitoring equipment near entrances while ensuring privacy, 7) provide flexible furniture arrangements for various activities, and 8) position smart farms near entrance and kitchen facilities for easier management and utilization. The study provides foundational research for developing design standards and guidelines for smart senior centers as core infrastructure for integrated elderly care.