지역사회 계속 거주(Aging in place)를 위한 근린공원 개선 방안 연구

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) Everyone has a tendency to want to continue living where they live. The places where people live includes outside spaces such as parks and trails, along with the house. In Korea, 17.5% of the total population is aged 65 years or older as of 2022. Although various issues regarding aging have been discussed, clear public guidelines for older adults are lacking. Given the ever-increasing aging population, it is necessary to maintain their living base in consideration of the characteristics of the elderly and expand park sites, including improving the outdoor environment designed to be friendly to the elderly. Although the existing guidelines classify parks in detail, there are no guidelines for senior parks in the aging era. Therefore, in this study, we intend to present details about parks for the elderly and contribute to improving the outdoor environment for the elderly. (Method) This study was conducted for elderly people who want to continue living in their current residence. Rather than suggesting guidelines for new parks, we want to add elements of elderly friendly parks to existing neighborhood parks. It is hoped that these guidelines for parks will help people understand the actions and needs of the elderly and allow them to enjoy their old age without inconvenience. This research arrives at its conclusions by analyzing existing elderly parks and deriving common elements and characteristics. (Results) Based on the analysis of elderly park guidelines, four common points were found. First, these guidelines aim to maximize accessibility in terms of topography and install ramps outside the stairs so that there is no inconvenience in traffic, considering easier access for the disadvantaged. Second, to ensure the safety of citizens, appropriate lighting should be used to increase night utilization and safety. Third, the access roads and entrances of public toilets should be located in places that are convenient and easy to access. Fourth, it is necessary to help older adults avoid inconveniences in their movements. Through our analysis, we identified nine common characteristics and eight-fold common elements. (Conclusions) Although technological development and research are developing according to the aging era, there are no clear guidelines for outdoor spaces. Currently, the elderly are more interested in their health and have a strong willingness to spend their older age healthier. Therefore, with the ever-increasing aging population, it is necessary to expand park sites, including the improvement of the outdoor environment to be more elderly-friendly. Through this study, it is expected that the use of neighborhood parks will increase by presenting details that can help elderly people use them safely and comfortably.