One out of five seniors in Korea lives alone, and the number is expected to double over the next 20 years. (Image : Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec.23 (Korea Bizwire) – One out of five seniors in Korea lives alone, and the number is expected to double over the next 20 years.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, around 1.4 million seniors currently live alone, which is 20.8 percent of the total elderly population. This means that one out of five seniors are currently living alone.
Population projections announced by the National Statistical Office for the period between 2010 and 2035 predict that the number of seniors living alone in 2025 will increase to 2.25 million, which is an increase of 60 percent, with 3.4 million living alone in 2035, more than double the current figure.
As a result, the proportion of seniors living along among the total senior population will increase to 21.8 percent in 2025 and reach 23.3 percent in 2035.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has implemented a policy to offer better care to the elderly living alone, as the population is growing rapidly.
Contact with ‘lifestyle managers’, who visit the elderly regularly and call them two to three times a week to check on how they are doing will be increased, and additional services such as checking safety will become more frequent.
In an effort to prevent death and suicide caused by loneliness, the elderly will be encouraged and supported to make friends and social connections at seniors’ centers.
The ministry also plans to provide heating supplies to the elderly living alone until January 3, and will establish and enact countermeasures to help protect them.
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
