일 지역의 노인 ‧ 치매 돌봄서비스 공급자원의 사회 네트워크 분석

A Social Network Analysis of the Delivery Networks for the Older Adults and Dementia Care Services

Purpose: This study aimed to identify delivery organizations for elderly and dementia care services in one city and analyze the social networks between them. Methods: Data were collected from twenty-one institutions providing elderly and dementia care services in S City, Gyeonggi Province, using a structured questionnaire administered from January to February 2022. A social network analysis (SNA) was performed using the NetMiner 5 program. Results: After the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, interagency relationships declined and more institutions became isolated than in 2019. Furthermore, although senior citizen welfare centers were identified as central to the care service delivery network, the overall network density was low, indicating a lack of organic connections between institutions. Conclusion: As society approaches the threshold of a super-aged society, it is essential to establish a care delivery network for the elderly to provide diverse care services in a cooperative and integrated manner.