Health service challenges at senior centres in an urban South Korean community: A mixed-method approach focusing on nurses’ roles

Abstract

Aims We aim to identify challenges and recommendations for senior centre health services focusing on nurses' roles in an urban South Korean community. Background Senior centres can potentially provide easily accessible and cost-effective health services to older adults. It is essential to identify current challenges to improve health services. Method This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Quantitative descriptive data were obtained from a survey of all nurses at senior centres in Seoul (n = 30). For the qualitative data, focus group interviews were conducted with various senior centre stakeholders (n = 15). Results Two main themes, discrepancy between services and needs and reform senior centres, were identified with six subthemes. Conclusions Challenges identified included insufficient availability to meet health service needs, overlapping health services, and no legal clarification of nurses' roles. Recommendations to improve the senior centre health services include to focus on the centres' main goals, function as health and welfare hubs, establish legal guidelines, and provide adequate nurse staffing. Implication for Nursing Management The senior centres need to hire more nurses and define nurses' occupational roles legally for the centres to serve as a hub connecting medical care and welfare.