“Ensuring the Elderly and Disabled Continue to Receive Care Where They Live”… Exploring Support Measures

Ministry of Health and Welfare Holds Policy Forum for ‘Integrated Support for Medical, Nursing, and Care Services’
Gathers Opinions to Enact Enforcement Decrees and Expand Pilot Projects, “Ahead of the implementation of the ‘Integrated Support for Community Care, Including Medical and Nursing Care Act (Community Care Integration Support Act)’ in March next year, relevant agencies, experts, local governments, and stakeholders gathered to seek methods to provide organic care support for the elderly and disabled in local areas.”,
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, “The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it held a ‘Policy Forum for the Implementation of the Community Care Integration Support Act’ at the Peace & Park Convention in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 13th. This forum served as the first official platform to externally communicate the preparations made by the Ministry of Welfare and pilot areas in local governments since the law was enacted in March last year.”,
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, At Eunpyeong Silver Care Center in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, seniors enjoy the rooftop garden. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung.,
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, ‘Lee Sun-sik, head of the Ministry’s Medical and Care Coordination Team, was the first presenter, discussing the ‘Direction for Promoting Integrated Support for Medical, Nursing, and Care Services’. He explained the policy direction for supporting the elderly and disabled, who need comprehensive assistance, by connecting home-visit medical services, long-term care, or welfare and care systems where they live. He stated, “We will establish procedures to comprehensively assess the medical, nursing, and care needs of seniors and disabled individuals identified as candidates for integrated support and create individualized support plans to connect various care services. We also intend to expand home medical and care services so that those with mobility difficulties can continue living healthily at home.”‘,
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, “Yu Ae-jung, head of the Policy Development Center at the National Health Insurance Service, gave a presentation on ‘Progress and Expansion Directions for the Medical and Care Integration Support Pilot Project’. She introduced the operational progress, best practices, and key efforts to establish an integrated care system in pilot project areas and proposed strategies and tasks needed to expand these pilot projects nationwide.”,
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, “Jang Min-sun, a senior researcher at the Korea Legislation Research Institute, presented on ‘Review Directions for the Draft Enactment of the Community Care Integration Support Act’s Enforcement Decree and Regulations’, explaining the research results on the draft and proposing key clauses for subordinate legislation that will detail the specific aspects regulating integrated support targets and procedures.”,
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, ‘The panel discussion that followed was chaired by Seo Jae-eun, professor of social welfare at Hallym University, and included participants such as Lee Hye-jin, director of the Korea Homecare Association, Jeon Yong-ho, professor of social welfare at Incheon University, Seo Dong-min, professor of social welfare at Baekseok University, Kim Kyung-ran, policy director at the Korea Disabled Development Institute, Oh Hyun-tae, president of the Korea Day and Night Care Association, Jeong Deok-hee, director of the Welfare Culture Bureau of Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong, Byun Jae-gwan, policy director at the Foundation for Care and Future, and Jang Young-jin, director of the Ministry’s Medical, Nursing, and Care Integrated Support Team. The participants agreed on the need for active collaboration not only from the Ministry of Welfare but also from local governments and specialized institutions such as the National Health Insurance Service and service providers.’,
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, ‘Minister Cho Kyu-hong of the Ministry of Welfare commented, “The Community Care Integration Support Act is significant as it lays the foundation for integrating and connecting health care, long-term care, and welfare services, previously provided in fragmented and supplier-centered manners, into a cohesive, recipient-centered system.” He added, “As our country entered a super-aged society this year, we aim to prepare a solid care linkage system that allows the elderly to continue living healthily where they have been, and expand the support targets to include disabled individuals, ensuring that effective care services can be provided at the local government level with the implementation of the law.”‘,
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