This study aims at examining the perception of the welfare for the aged and their issues and to analyze the welfare status targeting the monks in minor religious orders. Therefore, the purpose of this study is, through examining the sectors of housi...
This study aims at examining the perception of the welfare for the aged and their issues and to analyze the welfare status targeting the monks in minor religious orders. Therefore, the purpose of this study is, through examining the sectors of housing, medical care, income, leisure, to create a stable environment for the monk's retirement and offer revitalization plans for the welfare services so that they can concentrate on performing missionary and practicing religious. The subjects of this study are 7 religious groups registered in Korea Buddhist Council except Jogye Order and the 256 questionnaires were used for analysis of the study. Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 19 Program. Data analysis in this study, first, the frequencies and percentages were calculated in order to investigate the general characteristics of the subjects. Second, depending on the general characteristics surveyed above, the cross-analysis (chi-squre), t-test(independent samples) and ANOVA test were performed to see the respondents perceived welfare state and the activation on the welfare of the aged. Also, Duncan's multiple-range test (Duncan-test) was also conducted as post-est(post-hoc). The general characteristics of subjects in this study is that Buddhist nun(bhikkhuni) was 60.9%, whose average age was 57.14 years and 44.9% subjects were in their 50s. Among the monks, those who practiced over 30 years took up the largest percentage of 31.6% and 57.4% of them are college graduates In academic careers. 72.7% were found in charge of such duties as a chief Buddhist monk.
As a result of these test, Cross-analysis(chi-square), t-test and ANOVA, a place providing 'care and treatment'(55,9%) was chosen as the most ideal housing while the selection of 48.8% was the Buddhist Temple Nursing Home for a living space in their later years. Welfare facilities for the aged in Private small Buddhist temple(39.6%) were also chosen. The very necessity of Joint Housing facilities was 3.32 level. Furthermore, the fact that 54.7% took their religious orders as the host of building the co-residential facilities as well as 79.9% are willing to use the facilities built by the communities shows a strong desire for the co-housing. When it comes to health care, 35.9% responded the major problem when dealing with diseases is medical expenses and 92.5% were to pay for the expenses. It was showed that the 57.0% of the monks of the minor religious orders subscribed to several care services and 'economic burden' as the reason for the 64.4% non-subscription. The level of the desire for 'service for retirement' was 4.35, which shows that any human perceives the medical issues as significant problems. In the leisure sector, as the solution to the psychological isolation, health activities such as exercising, walking, physical therapy were the best choice(30.7%). Also considering the monks(30.0%) wants to do volunteering work with some Buddhist, a variety of cultural arts and creative pastimes are needed to be developed in order to minimize the alienation after the retirement. Besides, the religious orders(63.7%) were recognized as the host of the welfare of the aged for monks and 'Separate Welfare Fund'(68.0%) was chosen as the most appropriate methods of fund raising. Based on these results, 58.8% responded to the necessity of revitalization plans and the 4.27points suggests the monks' perception of the very strong needs of the plans. The most urgent plan was monks' regular health checkup(57.1%) and 'volunteer center' for senior citizens. was the least.
According to this study, It is necessary to establish Elderly Medical Care Facilities hosted by the religious orders in order to activate the welfare for aged monks and stronger efforts are required to fix the problems relating to medical care, income, leisure issues. Thus, the two factors, 37.1% of respondents ages over 60 and the highest necessity of co-housing, implies that plans for monks' later years are urgent in preparation for aging society. At the same time, minor religious communities also should put a priority on establishment a welfare foundation. Welfare policy and system such as 'The Monk Welfare Act' which is currently being implemented as of April, 2011 by Jogye Order should be prepared as well. Above all, through separate welfare fund raising such as sharing mercy?donation to a temple?various exhibition and a charity bazaar, the environment where monks can only concentrate on their true religious practice should be established.