노인주거복지법제의 개선에 관한 고찰

Abstract

As we are about to enter the ultra-aged society, we are facing various social problems due to the increase in the elderly population, including poor residential environment for the elderly. Residential problems for senior citizens with low incomes are problems that cannot be solved in a short period of time at the individual level, thus requiring state intervention and support in terms of senior citizens’ welfare. In other words, the responsibility and role of the government are becoming more important than the responsibility of the individual in the housing welfare of the elderly today, and thus the approach should be made in terms of the public nature of the policy. A number of related laws have been enacted, including the Elderly Welfare Act, which guarantees the housing welfare of the elderly and stipulates it as a national obligation, and necessary housing welfare policies have been established and implemented in accordance with the relevant law. However, most elderly housing welfare policies are exposed to problems such as limited funding, lack of laws and systems, and failure to meet the needs or desires of older people due to changes in their physical characteristics. As a result, the current housing welfare law only contains declarative phrases on the improvement of housing welfare for the elderly and support from the government, which has not led to the establishment and implementation of specific policies, and calls for revision. In particular, a recent survey on the status of elderly housing in urban areas and rural areas has raised the need to revise legislation that reflects effective policies in accordance with each region. Specifically, the government should prioritize policies such as strengthening housing convenience and safety, resuming supply of public housing in urban areas, expanding support for rural housing, providing incentives to improve private rental housing, expanding living facilities in rural areas and housing services. In addition, an effective revision of the Housing Welfare Act for the Elderly, which effectively reflects this, should be made. The improvement of legislation to improve housing welfare for the elderly is a preemptive and essential work to solve the common challenges of our society ahead of the ultra-aged society.