Elder Care Services and Social Innovation in South Korea – What Kind of Care Can I Receive When I Grow Older?
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| I once visited a social enterprise that provides food care. Everyone was very busy making lunch boxes to deliver to the elderly.(Photo by Milly) |
A few days ago, the elderly lady living next door kept pressing our doorbell and banging on our door. I was so startled that when I opened the door, she told me she was feeling very unwell and asked if I could take her to the hospital. I immediately called an ambulance and managed to contact her guardian to explain the situation.
After a while, the guardian and the lady came back to our door. The guardian said she had been to the hospital and there was no major problem. However, it seemed she might have some early signs of dementia.
Since then, the lady has occasionally knocked on our door or called out looking for someone. One time, she even tried to follow a delivery person, asking to be taken along. Watching this, I couldn’t help but think of my and my husband’s grandparents. My own grandparents had severe dementia and spent their last years in a care facility before passing away.
👉The Reality of Elder Care in South Korea
In Korean society, elderly care has often relied on family. Traditionally, there has been a strong culture of children taking care of their parents.
However, as nuclear families have become more common and the number of single-person households continues to increase, family-based care faces limitations and can even lead to negative consequences. Naturally, various institutional measures have been established. Nevertheless, blind spots inevitably exist, and the demand for care is becoming increasingly diverse depending on the individual. Therefore, various forms of care, carefully designed, are needed.
👉Efforts by Social Economy and Social Innovation Organizations
To fill these gaps, South Korea’s social economy and social innovation sectors are implementing various initiatives.
Medical-Welfare Cooperatives: Operated with a community-centered approach, these cooperatives combine medical care and elder support, offering not only essential health services but also emotional care, hobby activities, and social engagement opportunities.
Regional Social Economy Networks: Collaborations between social enterprises and cooperatives provide local elderly residents with integrated care services.
Digital Technology in Care: Robotics, remote monitoring, and IoT solutions are being used to offer safe and emotionally supportive care networks.
These initiatives go beyond simply providing services—they create environments where older adults can live with dignity and without loneliness. Many elderly people prefer to receive integrated services in familiar communities rather than hospitals or care facilities, maintaining a sense of belonging while staying connected to society.
👉What Kind of Life Do You Want When You Grow Older?
Care will one day become a part of your life and your family’s life. Building a network within a connected care system is a vital social mission.
The strong safety nets created by South Korea’s social economy organizations can allow older adults to live safely and healthily in the places they choose. These efforts can also serve as a model for other countries facing an aging population.
💓Explore more related posts
Why Integrated Community Care Matters in an Aging Korea
Community Healthcare Cooperatives in Korea: Caring for Daily Life
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