Among middle-aged and older single-person households in their 50s or older, the number one difficulty they worry about is ‘care when the disease worsens’.
“There is a need for union with another person who is not dependent on marriage or blood ties… “We need to reform the consent method for medical practice.”
While the number of middle-aged and elderly single-person households is increasing due to non-marriage and divorce, they appear to be worried about difficulties such as maintaining a balanced diet and using medical care.
Accordingly, it was argued that the current single-person household support system, which is focused on supporting the elderly living alone, should be reformed, such as introducing new family concepts such as ‘living partners’.
According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs’ report on the 31st, ‘Characteristics and policy challenges of middle-aged and elderly single-person households’, the difficulty felt by single-person households with middle-aged and elderly people in their 50s or older without a spouse is ‘balanced diet’, with 3.2 points out of 5. was the highest, followed by coping when sick (3.1 points), household activities (2.8 points), economic anxiety (2.7 points), and isolation (2.6 points).
Difficulties that people worry about in the future if they maintain a single-person household life include ‘worries about care when the disease worsens’ at 41.0%, financial difficulties at 35.8%, and psychological loneliness at 8.4%.
Among the policy needs that reflect the characteristics and difficulties of middle-aged and elderly single-person households, the proportion of housing stability (33.6%), care services (21.9%), and health promotion (13.8%) was high.
Kim Se-jin, an associate research fellow at the Social Service Policy Research Department of the National Institute of Social Sciences and Technology, and researcher Kim Hye-soo, who wrote the report, analyzed, “Their desire for residential stability is highly related to the decline in residential stability among single-person households without spouses in their 50s and 60s.”
Over the past 10 years (2010-2020), the housing occupancy pattern of single-person households without a spouse has not changed significantly, but the proportion of those in their 50s and older who rent and live for free increased from 47.4% to 52.0%, and the proportion of those in their 60s who own a home increased sharply from 28.1% to 41.7%. did it The proportion of people in their 60s decreased by 11.4 percentage points (p) from 57.4% to 46.0%.
The writing team also said, “Their desire for care is a result of anxiety about a future in which private care providers will be absent due to the absence of spouses and children due to the increase in unmarried single-person households.”
Looking at the marital status of unmarried single-person households by age group, unmarried single-person households in their 50s increased by 16.8%p from 23.8% in 2010 to 39.0% in 2020, and those in their 60s increased by 8.3%p from 6.0% to 14.3%. This compares to a 17.4% point decrease in bereavement among those in their 50s and a 32.6% point decrease among those in their 60s during the same period.
The authors emphasized that institutional reform is needed from various aspects to address the medical and care needs of middle-aged and elderly single-person households.
They said, “Unmarried single-person households have no children, and especially those born after 1984, when the total fertility rate fell below 2.0, have fewer siblings.” They added, “Unmarried single-person households in the future are likely to live the life of complete single-person households without family.” analyzed.
“From a mid- to long-term perspective, legal improvements must be made to institutionally recognize life partners as weak unions,” he said. “For these people, union with others who function like family without relying on marriage or blood relations can be a new form of family.” “It seems like it can be applied,” he said.
He also said, “As a short-term approach, it is necessary to revise the ‘consent for medical services’ in relation to the use of medical services to prepare measures to cope when sick,” he said. “We must ensure that medical care can be used if a person other than the family agrees,” he said.
The writing team also emphasized, “Middle-aged single-person households are a group excluded from various housing policies due to the current housing supply policy centered on childbirth support,” and “There is also a need for institutional reform of housing policies.”
He continued, “Currently, due to changes in the housing subscription winning criteria centered on the ‘number of dependents’, middle-aged, unmarried single-person households can now receive sales when selling specially supplied homes. However, from a mid- to long-term perspective, to ensure stability in residential occupancy, the housing subscription must be 60㎡ or less. “There is a need for improvement in the restrictive regulations,” he said.
They also said, “Middle-aged and elderly single-person households whose physical functions are deteriorating are a group that is likely to experience difficulties in coping with (emergency) care situations, a high risk of lonely death, and a lack of a social and emotional support system,” adding, “The safety of their residences is high.” “Protection of (emergency safety and security services, etc.) is necessary,” he suggested.
(Sejong = News 1)
Interview between Time.news Editor and Kim Se-jin, Associate Research Fellow at the National Institute of Social Sciences and Technology
Time.news Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Kim Se-jin. The report you co-authored highlights significant challenges faced by middle-aged and older single-person households. What struck you most about the current realities for this demographic?
Kim Se-jin: Thank you for having me. One of the most striking insights was the overwhelming concern among these individuals regarding care when they fall ill. This issue is compounded by the increase in unmarried single-person households, which now lack traditional family structures that often provide support during health crises.
Time.news Editor: Absolutely! You mentioned that 41% of respondents specifically worry about care as their health worsens. What do you believe contributes to this anxiety?
Kim Se-jin: It’s important to recognize the historical context. Many individuals in this demographic may not have children or spouses due to changing social norms. Without these traditional support systems, they face significant uncertainty about who will care for them when needed. The gradual decline in the number of siblings in families, especially since the fertility rate dropped below 2.0 in the mid-1980s, has also played a role.
Time.news Editor: That’s a compelling point. Your report suggests a need to reform policies and recognize new family structures, like ‘living partners.’ Can you elaborate on what this might look like?
Kim Se-jin: Certainly. We are advocating for legal recognition of life partnerships that don’t rely on traditional marriage or blood relations. This could provide individuals with a framework to establish supportive relationships that function as family, allowing them to share responsibilities such as medical decisions and caretaking. Such reforms would reflect the modern understanding of family and community, ensuring that people are not left alone when they need help the most.
Time.news Editor: Not to mention, the current support system largely focused on elderly individuals living alone seems insufficient. What changes do you see as vital within the support system?
Kim Se-jin: Yes, the existing system primarily addresses the immediate needs of the elderly but fails to consider the long-term implications for emerging family structures. We recommend introducing policies that support varied family concepts, enhancing care services, stability in housing, and health promotion initiatives. For example, improving consent protocols for medical services is urgent—allowing trusted individuals, who might not be relatives, to make decisions can be crucial for those living alone.
Time.news Editor: That’s insightful and indeed necessary. The statistics on housing occupancy among these individuals are alarming as well. Can you comment on the implications of the rising trend of renting among older households?
Kim Se-jin: Over the past decade, we’ve observed a significant increase in older adults living in rental or precarious housing conditions. This lack of stability can exacerbate health and economic anxieties, leaving individuals vulnerable. It underscores the need for policies focused on affordable housing and housing security, which can significantly affect the overall well-being of single-person households.
Time.news Editor: It’s clear that addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach. What steps do you think can be taken in the short term to alleviate these concerns?
Kim Se-jin: In the short term, revising the consent methods for medical services is critical. We must ensure that individuals have the means to consent to treatment through chosen life partners, thereby addressing the immediate anxiety around health crises. Creating awareness and providing resources to facilitate support systems among peers can also make a substantial difference.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Kim Se-jin, for your valuable insights. The need for societal and structural reforms is evident, and it’s crucial for us to discuss these issues openly for better understanding and action.
Kim Se-jin: Thank you for having me. I’m hopeful that by highlighting these challenges, we can inspire change that will improve the lives of middle-aged and elderly single-person households.