From the standpoint that the fundamental problem in the social care for the aged in Korea stemmed from the discrepancy between the increasing dependency needs of the aged and the insufficient support from the care systems, the main objectives of this study are as follows: (1) to build theoretical framework; (2) to develope indicators relevant to the social care for the aged.
This study approached from the conceptual basis of and need-fulfilling of the elderly and identified the following 5 components in analyzing the social care for the aged: (1) Needs of the elderly, (2) Support(need-fulfilling) system, (3) Criteria for need-fulfilling, (4) Unmet needs, (5) Social policy on aging.
With the focus on the needs and the level of need-fulfillment of older people, this study classified the indicators into 3 need categories, namely, economic needs, health care needs and psycho-social needs. In addition to these categories, demographic and fiscal /budgetary category was included. The followings are brief description of the need categories.
(1) In demographic and fiscal /budgetary category, demographic changes, changes in family structure and fiscal & budgetary changes were included.
(2) In economic needs, the need of income security and the need for economic activity were included. Here was also included the housing needs of the elderly closely reflecting econorrnc status in Korea.
(3) In health care needs, prevention and health maintenance, utlization of medical facilities and services, medical expenditures and nursing & physical care needs were included.
(4) In phycho-social needs, life satisfaction, loneliness, changes of attitude on the care for the elderly, family relationship, helping patterns, kin-friend-neighborhood and social activity were included.
|