| Title |
Restructuring the Living Area System and Physical Environment Composition for Elderly Community Care |
| Authors |
김모두(Kim, Mo Du) ; 이효원(Lee, Hyo Won) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.4.43 |
| Keywords |
Community care for the elderly; Living area system for the elderly; Physical environmental composition |
| Abstract |
This study proposes a restructured living area system and its physical environment composition to realize elderly community care. It addresses
limitations of existing administrative district-centered living areas, emphasizing the need for a novel concept reflecting the elderly's physical
characteristics and walking accessibility. The research conducted a comprehensive analysis of prior studies, policies, and regulations to classify
essential facility elements for elderly care. It also derived the elderly's typical daily living radius and service demand characteristics through
survey analysis. Consequently, a ‘0th living area’ defined by a 5-to-15-minute walking radius (approx. 240-720 m) and reflecting the elderly's
physical attributes, was proposed. This foundational element was integrated into a reconfigured four-tiered living area system (0th to 3rd
living area). Within each area, specific physical environment composition plans were derived, orchestrating the multi-layered arrangement of
essential services-medical, in-home, welfare, leisure, and health support-centered on fostering the elderly's independent lives. This system
ensures diverse, accessible provision, demonstrating spatial implementation for effective community care. The study offers a paradigm shift in
living area restructuring, suggesting novel spatial units for age-friendly cities and robust community care systems. Future empirical research
for application review and advancement is warranted. |