South Korea launches pilot program for caregiver hospital accompaniment for elderly

South Korea is initiating a pilot program designed to assist elderly citizens who have difficulty moving around by providing them with caregiver accompaniment for hospital visits. Starting June 30, the "Long-Term Care Hospital Companion Pilot Program" will be implemented across 282 care facilities nationwide.

The program targets individuals receiving long-term care insurance, specifically those with grades 1 to 5, and residents of nursing facilities who also fall into these grades. Participating facilities include 170 integrated care agencies offering services like home care and bathing, as well as 112 affiliated nursing homes. These caregivers, which can include care workers, nurses, or nursing assistants, will assist eligible seniors with transportation to and from the hospital.

Once at the hospital, the caregiver will stay with the senior throughout the entire process, including registration, waiting for appointments, and collecting prescribed medications. The goal is to alleviate the significant burden these medical visits place on both the elderly individuals themselves and their families. Participants can utilize the service up to a limit of 500,000 won per person for the year.

The cost structure varies: for seniors living at home who use integrated care agencies, a session under 180 minutes will cost 34,120 won, and over 180 minutes will be 57,020 won, with the senior responsible for 15% of the fee. However, if a nurse or caregiver from a nursing facility accompanies the senior, the cost is 10,000 won, with no out-of-pocket expense for the participant. This initiative reflects a growing effort to support the aging population and ensure their access to necessary healthcare services.