○ elationships between food deserts and the health and daily lives of the elderly in rural areas

 a​ According to overseas studies on elderly residents of food deserts, imbalanced nutrition is the main culprit behind the high prevalence of chronic diseases among this population, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, and obesity

 a​ Food insecurity, which is defined as the lack of access to sufficient food or food of adequate quality to meet one’s basic needs, can reduce senior citizens’ cognitive assessment scores and aggravate symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, and social isolation. 

 a​ In this context, effectively navigating the adverse impact of food deserts on the health and daily lives of elderly individuals with limited mobility necessities viable response roadmaps. 

○ Access to fresh food and health status of seniors living in Jeonbuk rural areas

 a​ The survey results indicated that rural seniors living in Jeonbuk State have limited access to supermarkets and bus stops from their residences and that they have low satisfaction with the use of commercial facilities and public transportation.

 a​ About 40.9% of the elderly in rural areas reported negative self-perceptions of their health and shared their struggle to manage nutrition through grocery shopping and cooking, potentially leading to nutritional imbalance and health problems. 

 a​ Compared with senior citizens living with their spouses and children, elderly people who live alone face greater challenges in grocery shopping, cooking, and eating, thus warranting particular attention from healthcare and social service providers. 

○ Measures to address nutritional imbalance among senior rural residents and improve their health

 a​ The Rural Service Community, which was created in accordance with the Rural Economic and Social Services Act that took effect on August 17, 2024, involves operating town hall-based grocery stores and food supply networks. This initiative also provides the elderly with wide-ranging services at town halls, including nutrition education, health counseling, and caretaking

 a​ When seniors order groceries and daily necessities through an unmanned  information terminal installed at town halls (distribution centers), stores connected to the terminal (e.g., agricultural cooperatives) deliver the products ordered to town halls. 

 a​ The management of databases of ordered items are then transferred to public health centers and regional dietetic associations, which, in turn, develop and operate elderly-friendly programs

 a​ The food bank operated by the Korean National Council on Social Welfare receives donations of fresh food from local food markets, village companies, and farmers, after which it delivers relevant food packages to the elderly to improve their nutrition. 

 ​● DOWNLOAD REPORT (PDF, Korean)​