Ministry of the Interior and Safety Publishes 'Elderly Housing Renovation Service Operation Manual'

Publication of Elderly Customized Operation Manual to Support Housing Renovation Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 19th that it will publish the "Elderly Housing Renovation Service Operation Manual" to support the increasing demand for housing repairs focused on the safety and convenience of the elderly in an aging society.

This operation manual is characterized by focusing on the physical and lifestyle aspects of the elderly to create a residential environment where seniors can live a healthy life for a long time in their community (AIP, Aging In Place).

The elderly housing renovation manual covers five detailed elements: lifestyle, physical function changes, obstacles in each residential space, standard specifications, and unit prices by item. First, in terms of lifestyle, it explains the difficulties in daily life and physical obstacles centered on walking and mobility, distinguishing between them and describing considerations such as level differences, wall corners, and floor materials.

Regarding changes in physical function, the manual reflects sensory, cognitive, and physiological functions of the elderly separately to predict physical changes and ensure no inconvenience to independence. Considerations for residential spaces include measures to improve access routes to enable safe movement from entrances to living spaces. The specifications for each residential space detail standards recommended by laws supporting convenience for disabled elderly residents, such as the Convenience Promotion Act, design dimensions for elderly-friendly housing facilities (KS P 1509), and the Residential Vulnerable Act.

Meanwhile, since April, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has been providing "housing renovation services" to about 200 elderly households receiving basic pensions or less as part of the "Pilot Project for Reforming the Elderly Care Delivery System" in cooperation with Chuncheon City and Hwaseong City. This service is being promoted by reflecting the needs and conditions of users, moving away from the traditional provider-centered approach.

The Ministry expects that the publication of this housing renovation operation manual will be helpful to public officials performing elderly housing renovation services on-site and to citizens directly carrying out housing repairs, supporting the residential rights of the elderly. Using this manual, education will be conducted for officials in charge of elderly care, including city, county, and district offices such as Hwaseong and Chuncheon, as well as visiting health and welfare service teams in towns and townships.

Park Seong-ho, Director of the Local Autonomy and Decentralization Office, said, "I hope this housing renovation service manual will be actively utilized in the field to create a residential environment that improves the residential rights of the elderly within the community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.