Abstract

This study was designed to find out opinions about free congregate site meals that the program served to improve nutritional status of low socio-economic elderly. This study was conducted in Sungnam-shi. The purpose of this study provided the baseline data to extend the meal service program in this area. Five hundred samples were selcted by the propotion of population in three districts(Sujung-gu, Jungwon-gu,Bundang-gu). The result were as follows. 72.8%of subjects were women and 27.2%of subjects were extended family type. Seventy% of respondant were not aware of the free meal service for elderly. Major channels of information about free meal service were mass media(33.8%)and advertisement material from city (24.3%). The rate of recognition and channels of information about free meal service were different according to demographic characteristics of subjects. Sixty-eight of subjects pointed that the meal service program was highly necessary in these areas and the necessity of the program was not significantly different by socio-economic variables. The group who know about free meal service had a positive attitude toward supporting the meal service program. Women preferred labor volunteers(46.8%)at meal service center and men preferred donations. According to levels of education each group preferred different types of surpport for free congregate site meals for elderly.

• Keywords: congregate site meal; elderly; walfare; meal service