A Study on the Need for Untact Communities for the Depressed Elderly in a Post-Aged Society

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) According to the National Statistical Office, Korea expects the number of people aged 65 or older to increase rapidly to 16.5% in 2021, 20.3% in 2025, and 43.9% in 2060. The life expectancy of domestic survivors is 1.8 years higher for women and 0.8 years for men than the average 65-year-old survivor of the OECD, so the relatively fast entry into a super-aged society entails various problems. As we enter a super-aged society, depression among the elderly is increasing due to complex problems such as economic activity, social activity, and the absence of care providers. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to inform the practical situation of entering a super-aged society and the need for a depression-free community for the elderly, whose depression has rapidly increased due to sudden COVID-19. (Method) This study focuses on elderly people who are alienated due to overlapping COVID-19 situations in a super-aged society and are depressed due to economic difficulties or social activities, and elderly people who are unable to go out or engage in external community activities due to COVID-19. First, after examining the aging and aging depression through literature research, then examine how the global paradigm has changed due to COVID-19. Second, a current status survey is conducted on Seongnam-si to find out the changes in the lives of the elderly after the outbreak of COVID-19. Third, it examines domestic and foreign untact communities and derives and analyzes the reasons and limitations of cases that need to be switched from face-to-face. (Results) Through this study, the necessity for the depressed elderly in the rapidly aging society is as follows. First, as the face-to-face community, which was possible due to social distancing due to Corona 19, became impossible, the elderly were only able to sit on the street. Through this, analysis can check various types of types. Second, various untact communities are provided to the depressed elderly due to social disconnection, but there seems to be an urgent need for untact human interaction rather than unilateral use and experience. (Conclusions) Based on the research conducted by the face-to-face community for the better life of the elderly in need due to physical problems and COVID-19, it is hoped that support such as digital device distribution and education will be activated nationwide in the future, and many studies will be conducted.