Where Should Senior Welfare Centers Stand in Older Adult Care in South Korea?

Abstract

Senior Welfare Centers, the vital community facilities known mostly as leisure venues for older adults in South Korea, are expanding their roles as older adult care providers to respond to the aging population. However, their roles remain unclear, which makes it difficult to utilize their potential and establish a position in older adult care. This study conducted qualitative research to clarify and seek the role of Senior Welfare Centers by exploring their experiences in two major older adult care services, Community Care and Customized Care, through a focus group interview conducted with 13 Senior Welfare Center professionals. Using qualitative thematic analysis, the findings resulted in two main themes: (1) experiences of Community Care and Customized Care and (2) redefining the role of Senior Welfare Centers in older adult care. Nine subthemes presented limitations in the care system and possible strategies to ameliorate the care roles of Senior Welfare Centers. The findings indicate recommendations at the facility, client, and governmental levels for Senior Welfare Centers to reestablish their position in older adult care. The study recommends future research to study policies and care services maximizing strengths and potentials of Senior Welfare Centers to redesign optimized older adult care in South Korea.

Keywords:

• Senior welfare centers
• older adult care
• community care
• customized care

Acknowledgment

The authors thank the Korea National Association of Senior Welfare Centers for their support in participant recruitment.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea [NRF-2020S1A5C2A03092919].

Notes on contributors

Soondool Chung

Soondool Chung is a professor in the Department of Social Welfare at Ewha Womans University. Her research focuses on age integration, active aging, intergenerational communication, social isolation, lonely death, psychosocial well-being of older adults, and evidence-based practice in social welfare.

Seo-Yun Choi

Seo-Yun Choi is a master’s student at the Department of Social Welfare, Ewha Womans University.

Jieun Jung

Jieun Jung, MSW, is a doctoral student in the Department of Social Welfare at Ewha Womans University.