Welfare Reform on the Web (May 2004): Care of the Elderly - Overseas

LONG-TERM CARE POLICY FOR FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT OLDER PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

D. Sun Woo

International Social Security Review, Vol. 57, Apr-June 2004, p.47-52

Due to population ageing, it has become urgent for Korea to construct a long-term care system for frail elderly people. In response, the Planning Committee for Developing a Public Long-Term Care Security System for the Elderly was established in March 2003. The paper suggests that the following issues need to be addressed by the committee:

• expansion of the infrastructure for providing long-term care services;
• converting small and medium sized acute hospitals into geriatric hospitals;
• construction of a support system for informal care givers;
• development of a funding system for costs of long-term care.