A Study on the Need for Senior Playground Based on Evaluation of Universal Design Index

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) In Korea, a large number of elderly people are expected to dwell in apartments in the period ahead amid the nation's rapid transition to the aged society. However, the elderly facilities within the apartment are inefficient space that does not consider the convenience of users thus degrading the residential environment, and show limitations in accommodating the rapidly increasing elderly population due to aging. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the installation status and user behavior of playgrounds in apartment complexes through evaluation factors of universal design to derive necessary factors for expanding playgrounds for the elderly as well as children in preparation for the upcoming super-aged society. (Method) In this study, Nowon-gu, which had been found to have the highest distribution of elderly welfare facilities and children's play facilities within housing complexes among 25 autonomous districts of the Seoul metropolitan area, was targeted as the subject of the research. After the analysis of the universal design, elderly playground, and preceding studies, the necessary factors for the elderly playground were derived by typifying the characteristics of the universal design, elderly playground, and analyzed the identified characteristics from the perspective of universal design. (Results) Playground facilities within apartment complexes with a high proportion of the elderly are not safe enough for use due to the absence of countermeasures against physical risks in the selection of materials and are not easily accessible to the elderly. In addition, the lack of exercise equipment installed in such playground facilities and the aging of the equipment made it difficult to induce various actions of users. The difference in the types of information system, such as guidance on the use of facilities and the location, led to the lack of the elements that could provide clear information, thus resulting in the impediment to the communication with users about the facilities. (Conclusions) Although the apartments are dwelled mainly by the elderly, it is difficult to expect smooth use of the elderly facilities, such as senior citizen centers and exercise facilities, due to the aging and demolition of these facilities. Furthermore, the lack of the facilities in terms of quantity caused limitation to the accommodation of the elderly population that would increase in the future. In this study, the playgrounds, which had been relegated to the crime-prone area due to the aging of facilities within apartment complexes, smoking, and illegal disposal of wastes and therefore had no clearly specified groups of users, were designated as the elderly playgrounds with introduction of the facilities for the elderly and various programs, which raises the expectation for achievement of physical health of the elderly population that would increase in the period ahead through exercise and for the social promotion through the interchange among the elderly.