노인의 경로당 참여경험과 경로당 발전방안에 대한 인식 연구

Abstract

This study aims to address how the older people use and operate Senior Centers and participate the leisure program activities and suggest development plans for Senior Centers. For this research. 10 research participants who are joining in the Senior Centers are successfully operated in Seoul. Gwangju. and Mokpo were interviewed. As a result of research findings. the first theme in terms of the use and operation of the Senior Center was derived as ‘a center for the elderly to interact with and coexist with the community residents. and to play the role of the elderly in the community’. As the second theme for the current status of the leisure activity program is that; ‘the elderly people were helping to develop their self-identity as well as to improve the integrations among them by developing a social support system.’ In the result of the analysis on the development plan of the Senior Centers. the third theme was generated; ‘In order to revitalize the Center. it is necessary to focus on the leisure programs preferred by the elderly in the advanced cultural level and develop further the integrated leisure programs which can be used with the local residents. The research participants hope to contribute to the community and develop co-existence relations in the Senior Center.’ Therefore it can be suggested that the Senior Centers should be reestablished as the Social Service Centers shared and coexisted with residents of the community. The Senior Centers also should develop the integrated local welfare services and programs according to the needs of changing society.