돌봄이 되어버린 삶: 돌봄 제공자의 경험 전개와 의미화 - 정읍시 마을 돌봄 매니저 활동을 중심으로

초록

Objectives:This study aims to examine how care is internalized and expanded throughout the life course of individuals living in depopulated areas where population decline and aging are concurrently progressing. Methods:Focusing on the life histories of village care managers who participated in the pilot project 「Sustainable Smart Community in Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do: Caring City beyond Healthy City」 conducted in Jeongeup, Jeonbuk state, the study analyzed the motivations and meanings of their engagement as care providers. Results:The findings reveal that family caregiving experiences served as a critical foundation for entering the role of village care manager and acted as a turning point through which care extended from the family domain to the wider community. However, the participants also encountered various challenges, including limited physical resources, institutional and structural constraints, and insufficient public awareness of care. Conclusion:These findings highlight that the sustainability of care cannot rely solely on individual dedication but requires institutional support and enhanced social recognition. Through a life history approach, this study elucidates how care is shaped and reconfigured within individuals’ lives and provides policy and practical implications for building sustainable community-based care systems in depopulated areas.

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