This year, South Korea has made substantial improvements to its Integrated Home Care Service, expanding eligibility to include not only existing long-term care insurance recipients but also previously excluded medical aid recipients and dementia care users. Furthermore, the process for long-term care institutions to apply as providers has been streamlined, allowing for year-round applications instead of the previous annual limits. This increases the accessibility for providers wishing to offer Integrated Home Care Services significantly.

The Integrated Home Care Service provides a variety of support options tailored to the needs and conditions of recipients, combining day and night care services, home nursing, home help, and bathing services under one roof. A team, consisting of nurses, social workers, physical therapists, and caregivers, operates collaboratively to manage casework, which helps prevent rapid declines in the health of elderly individuals, ensuring they can receive care at home rather than in facilities.

To access the Integrated Home Care Service, individuals can search for eligible care providers through the long-term care insurance website, facilitating contact and contracts with nearby institutions. This reshaping of the service aims not only to enhance the quality of care but also to promote the well-being of the elderly population in their own homes as they age.