Korea is facing a phenomenon of aging that is so rapid that it is difficult to find a similar example worldwide and it is forecasted that it will rapidly progress having no relation with the level of regional and economic development. In order to solv...
Korea is facing a phenomenon of aging that is so rapid that it is difficult to find a similar example worldwide and it is forecasted that it will rapidly progress having no relation with the level of regional and economic development. In order to solve the social changes and problems that come from rapid aging, the central and local governments recognize the importance of education for the elderly, and in particular in order to rightly understand and adapt to the society of today that changes suddenly, the validity of leisure education gathers strength as lifelong education that will let the elderly learn the emotional, social and physical changes that they will face after retirement.
Custom-made leisure education that can coincide with their ability and situation is needed. In addition, in the introduction stage of leisure education the system in which one can participate in and depend on programs due to an intentional intervention of somebody is established, but, in the maturity stage one should be able to enjoy happy leisure life by learning the life style in which one can utilize leisure individually.
That is, education for the elderly as a viewpoint of lifelong education that prepares for the super-aged society and meets the lifelong learning society is an important field for the successful old age, and therefore a systematic approach of concrete and practical lifelong education should be groped. In addition, opportunities of roles as social capital should be provided to the elderly in the viewpoint of lifelong education and thereby the leisure culture that considers various desires and field of life of the elderly should be settled and interest should be taken in revitalizing sound leisure education as lifelong education.
Hereupon this study analyzed the theoretical background and problems of the leisure education for the elderly and completed the execution model of the leisure education for the elderly by conducting the theoretical basis for the execution of the leisure education for the elderly as lifelong education that prepares for the super-aged society with the definition of lifelong education by Dave(1973) and the lifelong health optimization model by Wilhite, Keller and Caldwell(1999).
The first stage for the execution of leisure education is to assort and it measures the physical, cognitive, social and emotional leisure ability. The second stage is to optimize and it examines the measured leisure ability and thereby produces individual and environmental resources of factors such as facilities, leaders and programs. The third stage is to compensate and it provides programs and thereby executes dependent methods in which one can participate. The last stage is to evaluate and it verifies the effectiveness of programs and thereby evaluates so that one can enjoy independent leisure later.
The leisure education for the elderly as a viewpoint of lifelong education that prepares for the super-aged society and corresponds to the lifelong learning society is certainly an important field for successful old age, and therefore the plans for revitalization of systematic and practical leisure education for the elderly for the execution of leisure education are as follows.
First, it is needed to strengthen the systematization of the administrative system between government ministries and offices about leisure education, conceptualization of the process of leisure education and the administrative and financial support of the government.
Second, the system of institutions and facilities related to the leisure education for the elderly should be consolidated and a guide of operation and regulations of facilities should be prepared and the operation system that corresponds with the characteristics of each leisure welfare facility should be introduced.
Third, education that cultivates the expertise of the staff in charge of the institutions of leisure education for the elderly should be conducted and directors of leisure education for the elderly should be trained.
Fourth, the characteristics and levels of the elderly should be considered and systematic and specialized leisure education programs that correspond with desire should be provided and custom-made visiting leisure education service should be operated.
Fifth, the recognition of leisure participation should be promoted and equalized leisure opportunities should be provided and elderly human resources should be utilized.
The execution of the leisure education for the elderly as lifelong education that improves various revitalization plans that were suggested so far and thereby prepares for the upcoming super-aged society will bring about new changes of society and will be able to enhance the quality of life of old age that lengthened more.