[News Today] Senior care at home, not facilities

[LEAD]
Many elderly people and those with disabilities struggle to live on their own.

As Korea enters a super-aged society, a new integrated care system designed to support them is set to launch in just three months.

But concerns are already growing that support may fall short.

We have the details.

[REPORT]
This elderly woman in her 80s was hospitalized after suffering a fall one year ago.

Ever since installing safety bars at home, moving around has become easier.

Lee Gi-sun / Candidate for integrated care service
By holding on the bars, I can go to the bathroom and even outside the front door.

A new mosquito net has also been installed at the front door.

Park Sung-hee / Residence manager
We visit in person to identify threat factors within the home and areas that need repairs, based on seniors' needs.

For elderly people who live alone and have difficulty moving about, oftentimes they reside in facilities because they don't have anyone to look after them.

The new service called integrated care allows seniors to stay at their home for the rest of their lives by providing support in areas of residence, medical visits and convalescence.

All local governments will implement this new scheme from March next year.

The service targets seniors 65 and older in dire need of care as well as people with severe disabilities and vulnerable citizens.

When applications are filed through local community centers or health insurance chapters, authorities will deliberate and select those who meet the criteria.

Jang Jin-soo / Head of Home-based Medical Center, Seongdong-gu District Office
In order to expand medical visits, we are hiring one more each in doctors, nurses and social welfare workers.

However, with just three months left to implementation, complaints continue about shortage in related personnel and resources.

In particular, it's been a challenge to procure medical institutions willing to take part in the medical visitation service.

Another issue is budget.

While 91.4 billion won, or some 62 million U.S. dollars, has been set aside for next year's program, care groups point out that over twice that amount is needed for the program to stably take root.

■ 제보하기
▷ 전화 : 02-781-1234, 4444
▷ 이메일 : kbs1234@kbs.co.kr
▷ 카카오톡 : 'KBS제보' 검색, 채널 추가
▷ 카카오 '마이뷰', 유튜브에서 KBS뉴스를 구독해주세요!

KBS