Korean J Geriatr Gerontol.  2020 Dec;21(2):65-70. 10.15656/kjcg.2020.21.2.65.

Current Concept of the Long-Term Care Service in Korea

• Cho C
• Choi S

• KMID: 2566430
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15656/kjcg.2020.21.2.65

Abstract

The elderly population worldwide is rapidly growing and population aging has caused concerns about the burden of health care expenditures. In South Korea, future health care expenditures are expected to soar as the baby boom generation is going to retire in about 10 years. Many elderly people are hospitalized in geriatric hospitals or nursing homes because they feel it difficult to live their everyday life alone due to diseases or for other reasons like change in family structure. There is a relationship with these issues and the rapid growth of national health spending. In response to these challenges, the government established the long-term care service in July 2008. In this paper, we will summarize current long-term care service for the elderly and what has been changed in ‘2020 Senior Citizens’ Health and Welfare Project Guide’. There is a problem that the long-term care service and national medical insurance are separate. We present the efficient linkage of long-term care and health care is a big task in the long-term care service and national medical insurance.

Keyword

Elderly; Health services for the aged; Long-term care