As South Korea’s population rapidly ages, a shift toward providing medical care in patients’ homes is gaining momentum. The move comes as the country grapples with the limitations of a hospital-centric healthcare system in addressing the growing needs of an aging population and a rise in chronic diseases.
Known as “re-home care,” or “Home-based care,” the model involves doctors and nurses visiting patients’ residences to deliver medical services, including examinations, nursing care, and health management. This approach aims to ensure continuity of care for individuals transitioning from hospital treatment back to their homes.
The service is particularly valuable for elderly individuals with limited mobility, those managing chronic conditions, people with disabilities, and patients nearing the finish of life—those who may find frequent hospital visits challenging. By providing ongoing health management within a patient’s familiar environment, re-home care seeks to improve treatment outcomes and enhance quality of life.
The push for re-home care is closely aligned with the government’s recently launched community-based integrated care policy. This policy aims to provide comprehensive medical, care, and wellness services to seniors and individuals with disabilities within their local communities, moving away from a reliance on hospitals and institutional care. More information about the integrated care policy can be found at the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s dedicated website.
Within this evolving framework, re-home care is becoming a central component of healthcare delivery. It ensures a seamless transition for patients returning to their communities after hospital treatment, bridging potential gaps in medical access.
Typically, re-home care services are delivered through a combination of physician house calls, visiting nurse services, and home health aide support. The specific services provided are tailored to each patient’s health status, encompassing medical treatment, nursing care, rehabilitation, and health management.
Experts suggest that expanding re-home care could similarly help reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and emergency room visits. Regular monitoring of patients’ health and early detection of potential complications can enable timely intervention and prevent more serious health events.
receiving care in a familiar setting can promote psychological well-being and improve overall quality of life for patients.
Re-home care is already an established healthcare model in many countries, including the United States, Japan, and across Europe. These nations are expanding visiting physician and re-home care services to address the challenges of aging populations and alleviate the strain on hospital-based systems.
Even as the need for expanded re-home care in South Korea is increasingly recognized, the country still faces challenges in establishing the necessary infrastructure and regulatory framework. Calls are growing for increased participation from medical institutions, workforce development, and improvements to the reimbursement system.
Establishing strong collaborative networks between community-based medical facilities, public health centers, and long-term care providers is also seen as crucial. Effective integration of medical, care, and social welfare services is essential for the success of the integrated care system. As reported by Korea.kr, the government plans to expand the range of integrated care services to 60 by 2030.
“In a super-aging society, It’s tough to adequately manage the health of the population solely through hospital-based care,” said a healthcare official. “Establishing a re-home care system that provides continuous medical services in patients’ living spaces is essential.”
“Re-home care is not simply a visiting medical service, but a community-based healthcare model that integrates medical and care services,” the official added. “We must strengthen the role of re-home care within the integrated care policy and continuously expand related systems and infrastructure.”
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