• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2014

Purpose: Healthy and balanced meal is very important for the elderly to maintain the quality of life in community. Senior meal delivery system and congregate meal services have been played an important role to prevent premature institutionalization of the elderly. Food delivery system and lunch service spaces for the Korean elderly were mostly focused and limited on low-income family. The purpose of this study is to analyze community food services environments for the elderly in the UK, the U.S. and Japan for the possibility of applying those service spaces to Korean community. Methods: Lunch service spaces of these three countries were investigated by literature research and visiting of venues. Pilot study of the elderly meal services in Seoul was done for comparing environments and future research. Results: Lunch service spaces in three countries were mostly community based for accessibility and the types of management were various for the elderly to choose the most suitable services for them. The group dining spaces are usually small and designed to give de-institutional atmosphere. Implications: Food service environments for the elderly in Korea should develop more community based model of food delivery and congregate meal service spaces as well as more de-institutionalized design of those spaces.