치매 친화적 마을 구축 관점으로 본 치매노인시설의 공간 특성 연구 -‘World Alzheimer Report 2020’에 선정된 마을형 시설을 중심으로 -

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) Korea’s aging population is a serious and unprecedented issue. A significant problem with aging is the surge in the number of dementia patients. Dementia directly affects people’s quality of life and is expected to lead to various social, economic, medical, and welfare-related problems. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the awareness of dementia, medical support, and research on integrated residential environments. The purpose of this study was to present a direction for the establishment of facilities for the elderly with dementia by identifying spatial characteristics from the perspective of building a dementia-friendly village. (Method) The village-type dementia facility selected for the ADI's World Alzheimer Report 2020 was the scope of this study. The grand prize was selected on the basis of the first village-type dementia facility and recent facilities. Based on previous studies, the concept of dementia-friendly villages and facilities was considered. Based on the correlation between spatial access to dementia-friendly villages and facilities for elderly people with dementia, spatial characteristics and detailed elements were derived. The evaluation items were established and analyzed according to the derived factors. (Results) The characteristics of the spaces shown in dementia facilities were derived from functionality, relationships, and cognition. First, functionality was divided into the elements of a safe daily life, a barrier-free life, and pleasant environments. These three factors were equally high in intensity. Second, the elements of the relationship were the community, step-by-step domains, and educational and cultural programs. Among the evaluation items in the step-by-step domain, private spaces was at the median level, but the remaining factors showed a high intensity. Third, the elements of cognition were classified into attachment environment, landmarks, reproduction, and sensory stimulation. All attachment environments showed high intensity, but landmarks and reproductions and sensory stimuli were at the mid-level. Among the detailed factors, the results showed that a safe daily life; a barrier-free life; pleasant environments; community, educational, and cultural programs; and attachment environment exhibited the highest level of intensity. (Conclusions) Among the characteristics of space, functionality had the highest intensity, while relationship was found to be at the mid-level, and cognitivity was insufficient at the mid-level. This study confirmed that the establishment of a human-centered dementia-friendly village through minimal intervention and control rather than management-oriented facilities is a key concept that can improve quality of life and protect human dignity. We believe that this study can be used as basic data to lay the foundation for the establishment of a dementia-friendly village, and that active research will continue through mutual cooperation on policy aspects, including medicine and welfare, in the future.