As a result of industrialization and urbanization, traditional family values has been changed, which led to weakening of family’s unity, solidarity and ideology of filial duty. Under these circumstances, elderly term care and support problems accor...
As a result of industrialization and urbanization, traditional family values has been changed, which led to weakening of family’s unity, solidarity and ideology of filial duty. Under these circumstances, elderly term care and support problems according to the rapid surge in population of elderly people exasperate family frictions or bring about family break-ups. Accordingly, as importance on social care services for the elderly gets magnified, the government has executed the long-tem care for the elderly, and it has passed four years.
It is thought that the majority of citizens now find it very necessary to continue implementing this program, therefore, it is absolutely required that the program shall be reviewed multilaterally and reformed in order to be developed into newly stabilized long-term care system. For this purpose, any similar examples in foreign countries or any opinions and evaluation from service users and service provider shall be reflected upon current program in a variety of ways.
The purpose of this study is in analyzing the long-term care system’s past achievements, current problems and suggesting improvement plans. To achieve theses purposes it is combined analysis of foreign cases with empirical research from employees responsible for the division ‘long-term care’ in the National Health Insurance Corporation, directors and managers(inc. social welfare experts and concerned nurses) of Long-term care facilities, care workers on the basis of supply - demand analysis axis. The summary of this study is stated as below.
Firstly, drawbacks derived from on-going execution of the Long term care program are, for instance, excessive share of one’s payment, limited home-care services, insufficient preventive system, absence in a support for unofficial service providers, lack of public long-term care facilities, illegal acts from some long-term care facilities, inadequate treatment for care workers, problems with grading criteria and financial predicament, etc.
Secondly, regarding cases from Netherland, Germany and Japan, it is analyzed that their recent focus on the program’s development is growing in the topics such as vitalization of home-care service, strengthening preventive systems and support of unofficial service providers, improving service quality and financial stabilization after all
Thirdly, in a study of executives about this Long-term care system for the last 4 years, it is found that most executives recognize it is inevitable system to go along with the program continuously because it helps improving the quality of the elderly life and diminishing burden in supporting the aged. Also the executives commented that the top priority for the development of long-term care institutions is to improve service’s quality and treatment for care workers. And to tackle service’s quality improvement issue related facilities in the first place, they insist that it is considered to punish rigidly any illegal and unfair acts committed by some long-tern care facilities, to establish independent organization for the program assessment, to institute designated renewal system and to adopt authorization mark program. They also requested for upgrade of current incentive system for care workers and provision of official care-working guidelines and reinforcement of the worker’s expertise.
With regard to grade evaluation, credibility rate was turned out to be low for groups of Long-term care managers and care workers due to difference between each individual characteristics. It was surprisingly also the same for the evaluation of Long-term care facilities in terms of its credibility rate. The reason for this phenomenon is mainly caused by unnecessary documentation evaluation process. In addition, it is said that most relative parties are in favor of independent organization for the program assessment when it comes to evaluating Long-term care facilities. As for financial stabilization issue, the people were thought to prefer solutions such as extension of public support, foundation of Long-term care funds and imposing insurance charges on the elderly, who declared to have an earned income.
Based on above mentioned statements, I would like to suggest followings particularly as possible political solutions to this topic.
Firstly, establishment of social values and education system shall firmly stand upon Long-term care service. Long-term care service is human-related, which has its base on social-welfare values so that it shall be processed through social agreements. In addition to its value, suitable education shall be provided to concerned parties in order to form favorable environment for people’s individual values, pride and their loyalty in their own occupation.
Secondly, better service quality. it is immensely critical to pay attention to the service’s quality in order for Long-term care program to step into society as a public system. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to reinforce public service, to evaluate & steer Long-term care facilities and to develop incentive systems for people employed in this industry. To put it bluntly, the responsible range of public institution shall be strengthened by adding more people and embracing more publicness. Of course, it is important to transform current documentation evaluation system into fresh one and to change present incentive program driven by scores acquired throughout a year into authorization mark program. If necessary, it shall bring any penalty programs whatsoever to revitalize these suggestions. It is also worthwhile to establish independent organization for the program assessment and to try designated renewal program for continuously proper management. Possible law enforcement on employee management of Long-term care program and improvement on care worker’s payroll system shall be done accordingly.
Lastly, diverse solutions shall be applied to the issue of financial stabilization. To dea