Kim, Tae-il Professor of the Architecture Dept.Cheju National University, Korea

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

The GRC’s 17th Annual John K. Friesen Conference of Simon Fraser University

A satellite photo (Quotation data from internet)

(Provided form Jeju city hall)

Introduction of Jeju island

Jeju is famous a year round vacation spot and the biggest island in Korea. Many peoples call Korean Hawaii. So many honeymooners visit our island.

(Quotation data from internet)

The Aged has been cared traditionally by family in Korea

and

The Government encouraged the family care for the aged who live in community.

(Quotation data from Reference)

Renovation case of existing facility

In community, We have many kinds of facilities. The Utilization of existing facility will be more effective and economic method to provide welfare services for the aged in community. I have selected thirty-one public facilities such as centers for the elderly, social welfare related facilities, elementary schools, and regional offices and has studied the local distribution of facilities with GIS (Geogrphic Information System). Below picture show the local distribution of facilities in community(range of each circle is 100meter). Left side pictures present how to utilize existing facility.

social welfare related facilities

regional (administrative)offices

elementary schools

Meeting room for the aged

Type of utilization of the original function of existing facility

Type of utilization of function of other facility in community

Type of a new extension on an existing building for new function

Type of utilization by interior renovation

Before interior renovation of local (administrative) office

Renovation of existing facility (Cont’d)

1.To design flexible space

2.To design Home like environment and comfortable space

3.To design for prevention of accidents

Renovation of existing facility (Cont’d)

2nd Floor: Adult Day care centre1st Floor: Kindergarten

Renovation of existing facility (Cont’d) After interior

renovation of

local (administrative) office

Case 1: man, 68 years old / one person household

This slide shows residential environment of the aged in the House by video analysis. As figure show, it is very difficult to use the bathroom, entrance etc. when designed house for the aged, it is necessary to take care more attention in planning. Therefore it is necessary to establish the Minimum Safety Standard

Bed room

Bed room

Entrance

In case of Housing

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

1) Safety-related accidents of the aged by death cause

 Death Cause 1983 1988 1993 1998 2000 2003In 20 yrs

Traffic accident

18.4 52.2 86.2 68.7 72.7 60.8 42.4 

Fall 14.7 20.2 17.5 29.2 32.9 49.0 34.3 

Suicide 14.3 18.7 21.5 39.5 35.6 72.5 58.2 

   (*Death from a fall includes a fall from a building, bed, chair, stairs; a fall on the ice; losing the footing.)

According to the National Statistical Office of Korea, death from a fall and suicide had increased from 1983 to 2003.

Death Rate of the Aged (per 100,000 persons)

■ General Facts of Safety-Related Accidents of the Aged

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

2) Current Situation of Safety-Related Accidents of the Aged

표 11. 주요사고원인 ( 걸려 넘어짐 및 미끄러짐 ) 에 의한 사고발생률

  Age

Total No.No. of

Accidents Accident Rate (%)

N % N %

All the Age Groups

9 & below 5499 14.6 16 15.8 0.29

10 ~ 19 5485 14.5 7 6.9 0.13

20 ~ 29 5229 13.8 5 5.0 0.09

30 ~ 39 6658 17.6 14 13.9 0.21

40 ~ 49 6225 16.5 6 5.9 0.40

50 ~ 59 3712 9.8 15 14.9 0.04

60 ~ 69 3024 8.0 20 19.8 0.66

70 ~ 79 1469 3.9 10 9.9 0.68

80 ~ 89 407 1.1 7 6.9 1.72

90+ 61 0.2 1 1.0 1.64

Total 37769 100 101 100 0.26

The Aged  65+ 3302 8.8 32 31.7 0.97

And also according to another data ‘Census on People’s Health and Nutrition in 2001’, the accident rate of a tumble and slip is increasing as the age reaches higher.

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

Why the Minimum Safety Standard is needed?

1) Housing is the fundamental element of daily life of the elderly and the final place where community welfare service is carried out.

2) In particular, stable dwelling could be infeasible, and social cost increases due to safety concerns inside a house.

3)The minimum safety standard is set up with factors of economic feasibility and technical possibility; thus, it does not guarantee the prevention. 4)Its purpose and role are to secure the minimum safety by eliminating environmental factors that might cause most frequently-happening accidents inside a house.

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

Year Frequenc

y%

1969 & before

2 4.7

1970s 6 14.0

1980s 18 41.9

1990s 9 20.9

2000 & after 8 18.6

Total 43 100.0

Construction Year

Housing Size  ㎡ Frequency %

50 below 9 17.3

53.3-66.7 4 7.7

70.0-83.3 12 23.1

86.7-100 7 13.5

103.3-116.7 4 7.7

120-133.3 3 5.8

136.7 over 13 25.0

Total 52 100.0

■ Methodology for the Research

To find out the housing environment of the elderly, We did the comprehensive analysis of safety concerns through the survey on 52persons of the aged who experienced accidents in their houses within a period of 1 year by 2005.

When compared accident rates between old housing and new housing , between small area and large area oh housing, it is difficult to find the difference.

It mean that accidents are not concerned with construction year and area of housing.

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

■ Types & Places of Safety-Related Accidents inside a House

  Accident Cause TotalN(%)

Tumble Slip Fall Bump

Accident Place

Bedroom 1(10) 5(50) 3(30) 1(10.0)10(100

)

Kitchen 1(33.3) 0(0) 1(33.3) 1(33.3) 3(100)

Living room 1(33.3) 1(33.3) 1(33.3) 0(0) 3(100)

Restroom 2(66.7) 1(33.3) 0(0) 0(0) 3(100)

Bathroom 3(33.3) 5(55.6) 0(0) 1(11.1) 9(100)

Porch 0(0) 2(100) 0(0) 0(0) 2(100)

Stairs 5(45.5) 5(45.5) 1(9.1) 0(0)11(100

)

Balcony 1(33.3) 1(33.3) 1(33.3) 0(0) 3(100)

Others 2(33.3) 2(33.3) 1(16.7) 1(16.7) 6(100)

Total 16(32.0) 22(44.0) 8(16.0) 4(8.0)50(100

)

( P=0.001 df=45 χ2=81.598)

High accident rates in the cases of a slip on a bathroom, bedroom and stairs, a tumble on restroom and stairs.

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

■ Estimation on National Cost on the Medical Expense- Estimation on the number of accidents based on the safe-related accident rate

- Average expense of social cost per person based on the average personal medical expense applied with the average expense (70%) of the medical insurance

- Applied with the average increase rate of the medical expense in the past 5 years with the consideration of the price increase

- According to the analysis, the medical expense due to safety-related accidents is expected to increase annually as the population of the aged increases.Estimation on the future medical expense due to safety-related accidents

inside a house

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

■ Estimation on the Total Cost of Remodeling a House by Housing Scale

Estimation on the unit cost of remodeling a house

Estimation on the total cost of remodeling a house with the size of 93.3 Square meter.

-Above Table shows the result of the total cost of remodeling a house with a size of 83.3square meter.’ (Under Table shows the different amount of cost by its size.) - As of 2005, if 1% of the aged supported, then 47.6 billion won needed; if 3% supported, then 143.0 billion won needed; if 5% supported, then 238.4 billion won needed.- In 2015 when the aged population reaches the record high, if 1% of the aged supported, then 81.2 billion won needed; if 3% supported, then 243.6 billion won needed; if 5% supported, then 406.0 billion won needed.

Housing Size (Square meter) Expense of Remodeling (Thousand Won)

96.6 2300

83.3 2100

66.7 1900

50.0 1700

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

1) According to the estimation on the medical expense due to safety-related accidents inside a house,

- The expense is estimated at 327.6 billion won based on the accident rate in 2005 with the personal medical cost and medical insurance.

- The estimated medical expense is expected to increase from 425.3 billion won in 2010 to 542.3 billion won in 2015 with the consideration of the same accident rate and increase in the population of the aged.

- In particular, it is expected to much higher in social cost including the unknown cost of personal nursing.

2) According to the simulation of remodeling a house to prevent a fall tumble and slip of the aged inside a house with the size of 83.3 square meter,’

- Approximately 2.13 million won is to be needed, as of 2005, if 1% of the aged households supported, then 47.6 billion won needed; if 3% supported, then 143.0 billion won needed.

- If 5% of the total households of the aged is supported, then 238.4 billion won will be needed to remodel houses of the aged.

- Consequently, as of 2005, it is much more economical comparing to the amount of the medical expense (327.6 billion won) due to safety-related accidents.

3) In conclusion,

- It could have a house remodeled with a relatively low cost;

-It could reduce the social cost including the medical expense by remodeling houses and preventing safety-related accidents;

- It concludes that remodeling a house is much more effective in the aspects of the cost and human rights.

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

2) Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard

Plan I for the standard by detailed space and fundamentals to secure the safety (with a focus on the elimination of accident causes by detailed space)

Items Principles for the Standard

Detailed

Space

Stairs

1) Finished with non-slippery stairs

2) Clear distinction of upper and lower stairs

3) Installed with handrails

Bathroom &

Restroom

1) Finished with even floor

2) Finished with non-slippery floor

3) Installed with handrails

4) No glass doors of a bathroom

Bedroom1) Eliminated thresholds of doors

2) Finished with non-slippery floor material

Plan for the Establishment of the Minimum Safety Standard of the Elderly in Korea

Principles for the Standard

It should be established to eliminated major safety-related accidents in a house such as tumbles and slips.

As for detailed measures to eliminate the causes, non-slippery floor material should be used, and even floors are needed by eliminating thresholds.

In addition, handrails in appropriate places in a house are also needed to help the elderly lean on and move around and prevent safety-related accidents.

Plan II for the Standard by Detailed Space and Fundamental to Secure the Safety (with a focus on the elimination of accident causes without the suggestion of detailed space)

Now We are discussing which is the best. And also government have plan a public hearing to hear more opinions on October.

A’

B’

A

B

C’

C D

D’

A-A’ section

B-B’ section

C-C’ sectionD-D’ section

Illustration of the Model for the Housing Development for the Elderly in Korea

A left and below side housing model revised basic housing model that you shown previous slide.

This model show how we can change interior of housing(See a left side picture). Left side picture show section of this model. Level of water-used area is designed lower level than level of floor in order to have more flexibility.

Let’s see more details of interior.

Thank you for hearing my Presentation.