Long-Term Care Insurance for Older Adults in Terms of Community Care in South Korea: Using the Framework Method

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the long-term care insurance for older adults in South Korea in terms of community care. An analytical framework was designed for the study, focusing on comprehensiveness, adequacy, and integration. The findings suggest that Korean LTCI is significantly limited for the development of community care. First, in terms of comprehensiveness, the use of visiting nurses and the availability of short-stay services have been significantly reduced, and the supporting services for informal caregivers are at the beginning stage of their introduction. Second, in terms of adequacy, the quantity of benefits, such as three to four hours of care a day, are insufficient to meet older adults’ substantial needs. Furthermore, the overall quality of home care services is low, particularly with regard to short-stay services and welfare equipment. Finally, in terms of integration, basic linkage of organizations has not been properly conducted in local areas, and there remains an absence of care managers in the LTCI system. To cope with these challenging issues, the following policy measures are suggested: the activation of rehabilitation services, the expansion of benefit quantities, the improvement of service quality, and the creation of organizational linkages through local authorities and long-term care centers.