Elderly Welfare System Evolves: In-Home Services Outpace Nursing Homes (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, June 30 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of in-home care facilities serving elderly South Koreans has nearly quadrupled over the past five years, reflecting a growing preference among seniors to receive medical and support services at home rather than in institutional settings.
According to data released Saturday by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of elderly welfare facilities nationwide reached 96,430 at the end of 2024 — a 21.5% increase from 79,382 in 2019.
The most dramatic rise came from home-based elderly care centers, which jumped from 4,821 in 2019 to 18,745, a 3.9-fold increase.
These facilities offer a range of services, including home nursing, bathing assistance, daily care, day-and-night protection, and welfare equipment support, to seniors living at home. Eligibility and service limits are determined by the national long-term care insurance system.
Among the services, home care support was most common, provided by 8,668 facilities, followed by home bathing (4,794 facilities) and day-and-night care (3,790). Home nursing facilities saw a particularly sharp increase, growing from just 60 in 2019 to 376 last year — a more than sixfold rise.
South Korea Sees Surge in Home-Based Elderly Care Facilities Amid Shift Toward Aging at Home (Getty Image Bank/CCL)
While home care has surged, traditional elder care institutions have expanded more slowly or even contracted. Elderly nursing homes increased by just 12.1% to 6,195 facilities, and senior housing facilities fell by 26% to 281. Long-term care hospitals, though not classified as welfare institutions, also declined by 14.9%, from 1,577 to 1,342.
The trend highlights a broader societal shift: more seniors are choosing to remain in their homes during old age. A survey by the National Health Insurance Service found that 67.5% of long-term care beneficiaries wished to pass away at home rather than in a facility.
The government is responding by raising reimbursement limits for home-based care and preparing for a full-scale rollout of an integrated medical and care support system in March 2026.
The forthcoming “Integrated Care Support Act” will combine health care, long-term care, and daily support services under a single framework, with pilot programs already running in over half of South Korea’s 226 cities and counties.
The initiative, a campaign pledge of President Lee Jae-myung, is expected to become a formal national policy. Officials say it aligns with global trends in aging policy.
“Helping seniors receive care where they live is a cornerstone of how societies respond to super-aged populations,” a health ministry official said. “We are committed to ensuring the integrated care system launches smoothly next year.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
