Four out of 10 elderly people in Seoul feel alienated and depressed, a survey on quality of life among senior citizens in Seoul showed Monday.

The Seoul Welfare Foundation surveyed 1,590 people age 60 or older currently living in Seoul, and suggested the Seoul city government reflect the research in formulating its welfare policies for the aged, officials said.

According to the survey, 41.1 percent of respondents raised concerns about being alienated in society.

Regarding their health, 23.7 percent were found to have a high chance of suffering from depression and 17.7 percent are suspect depression cases. More than half of respondents said they feel that their health is in bad condition.

“The total score on the health of senior citizens in Seoul turned out to be quite low ― 65 out of 100, as a result of the survey questions on their physical and mental health” said Hong Juhee, associate principal researcher of SWF.

Respondents also said that they have on average four close friends, relatives and neighbors, but about 20 percent said they don’t have anyone they feel close to.

“The households of a senior citizen living alone was revealed to be 17.2 percent and those who said they don’t have anyone to call on when they get in trouble were 30 percent,” said Kim Jin-seok, Seoul Women’s University professor who participated in the research team.

The households composed of elderly couples and a single senior citizen outnumbered the households of families with children, according to the survey.

Senior citizen households also showed a higher poverty rate than that of the average household, with 49.8 percent of them living under the minimum cost of living. Average households with families below the poverty line were 29.9 percent.

Among 331 elderly and employed people, 47.1 percent were temporary and day workers, 27.5 percent were self-employed and the rest of them were regular workers.

The employment rate among elderly citizens over 65 did not drop unlike other developed countries such as the U.K., Germany and France, which show a significant drop in workforce participation rate when they start to receive pensions.

Respondents who received private pensions or retirement allowances last year were only two percent while 79 percent said they don’t have retirement savings. Those who received financial support from their children for living costs, hospital fees accounted for 42 percent.

“The survey results show that the city needs to expand public pension as most of senior citizens showed lower rate of subscription to private or public pensions. And it also needs to pay special attention to elderly people living alone.” said Kim.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)