• Health Policy and Management
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.78-97
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• 2009

This study examined the factors related to family caregiver satisfaction with institutional care services for beneficiaries under the Public Long-Term Care Insurance(PLTCI) system. Determining what contributes to family caregiver satisfaction is a critical step toward implementing effective quality improvement strategies. A national cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted from November to December 2008, using proportionate quota sampling based on the location and level of Long-Term Care of the beneficiaries. Total 1,745 family caregivers wrote informed consents and 733 (response rate 42%) completed questionnaires, which included caregiver characteristics, organizational resources, primary objective and subjective stressors, perceived quality of services, and family caregiver satisfaction. Family caregivers were satisfied overall with institutional care. In multiple regression analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in degree of family caregiver satisfaction according to caregiver characteristics(relationship to beneficiary), primary objective stressors (insurance type of beneficiary), perceived quality of services(respect to family caregivers' idea, ADL support, expertness of staff, careful concern of staff, fulfillment of client's requests, and safety of institution's environment). In public long-term care, satisfaction efforts are in an early stage of development. This study is meaningful as the first attempt to measure family caregiver satisfaction with institutional care for beneficiaries under the PLTCI system, and to identify factors affecting the satisfaction. Among the identified factors, the policy makers, the insurer, and the providers need to pay attention to perceived quality of services, in particular, to improve customer satisfaction. Our findings can provide quality care improvement initiatives in the public long-term care setting.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.145-162
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to understand magnitude and its related factors of user's cost-sharing for non-covered services in long-term care facilities. We corrected data for 1,016 subjects, based on the long-term care benefits cost specification. Eighteen subjects were excluded from the data analysis due to missing data on family care-givers characteristics. Finally, 998 subjects were included in the study. The average cost of non-covered services per month was 209,093 won and distributed from 0 to 1,011,490 won. There was a significant difference by the characteristics of family care-givers and long-term care facilities. The monthly average cost for meal materials per person was 199,181 won(0~558,000), average cost of additional charge caused by using private bed was 232,992 won (50,000~600,000), and costs for haircut and cosmetics were 8,599 won. For the rest, there were various programs costs(93,328 won), diaper and its disposal cost(109,628 won), purchase cost for daily necessaries(24,435 won) and etc. The related factors for the magnitude of non-covered services expenditures were education level of family care-givers, occupancy rate and location of LTC facilities, and the costs of using private bed, haircut and cosmetics, and various programs among non-covered services. These findings suggest that present level range of LTC facilities users' cost-sharing is wide and it is urgent to prepare the standard guideline for cost and level in non-covered services.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.522-537
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze the level of the cognitive function and activities of daily living of the beneficiary older adults at home based on Korean Long-term Care Insurance System. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted from November 2010 to May 2011, the final respondents were 1,026 beneficiary older adults taking home visit care covered in Korean long-term care insurance system. The questionnaire included general characteristics of subjects, cognitive function, ADL(Activity of daily living). The data was analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 version. There was significant difference in cognitive function and ADL between 1st Grade, 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade of long-term care classification. The correlated factors of cognitive function were ADL, long-term care grade, disability of arm and leg, limitation of joint, bed sore and tube feeding. The correlated factors of ADL were cognitive function, long-term care grade, disability of arm and leg, bed sore and tube feeding. This study suggests that cognitive functions have to be mainly considered in long-term care grade. It is necessary to make an effort to develop long-term care grade in Korean long-term care insurance system an cognitive function improvement program for the beneficiary older adults. Above all things government will be seriously contemplating of revise contents for long-term care grade to provide quality of care for the older adults.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.383-402
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting family caregiver financial burden of out-of pocket expenses for the nursing home service under Long-term Care Insurance System. We conducted a national cross-sectional descriptive survey from July to September 2010 to collect data based on the long-term care benefits cost specification. Total 1,016 family caregivers completed questionnaires. 185 subjects of total were excluded from the data analysis due to being answered by user(18 cases), or caregivers not to pay for services expenditures(122 cases), having a missing data on family caregivers characteristics(45 cases). Finally, 831 subjects were included in the study. The average financial burden was 3.18(${\pm}0.71$). We divided subjects into two groups by level of burden, high-burden group and low-burden group. In the result of the multiple logistic regression analysis, family caregiver financial burden was significantly higher in family caregivers with ages 40 to 49 compared to less than 40, lower educational level, unsatisfaction for long-term care service, high percentage(more than 50%) of cost-sharing and high total out-of pocket expenses(more than 300,000 won) for long-term care services. Also, Family caregivers who are spouse felt higher financial burden compared to son. This study is meaningful as the first attempt to measure family caregiver financial burden for long-term care service and to identify factors affecting the financial burden. Family caregivers felt financial burden of out-of pocket expenses for the nursing home service. The policy makers, the insurer, and the providers need to pay attention to ease family caregiver financial burden.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.522-530
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• 2020

Background: In 2008, Korea implemented a new type of social insurance known as "long-term care insurance". We examined the association between ownership of long-term care facilities and the incidence of pressure ulcers after the implementation of "long-term care insurance". This study is a population-based retrospective cohort study from 2006 to 2013. Methods: We used medical claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporate Elderly Cohort Database from 2006 to 2013. These data comprise a nationally representative sample. To avoid confounders, only patients admitted to one long-term care facility and who stayed for >70% of the follow-up time were included; as a result, 3,107 individuals were enrolled. The main independent variable was the operating entity of the long-term care facility (local government, corporate bodies, and private for-profit owners), and the dependent variable was the 1-year incidence of pressure-ulcers. Survival analysis (Cox proportional hazard model) was used as an analysis method. Results: Compared to patients admitted to local government long-term care facilities, patients admitted to private long-term care facilities had a significantly higher 1-year risk of pressure ulcers (hazard ratio [HR], 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-2.91); the risk was especially high among patients who were cognitively dependent (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.25-4.37). Conclusion: Patients admitted to private for-profit long-term care facilities were more likely to have pressure ulcers compared to those in local government and corporate body long-term care facilities. Appropriate assessment tools and publicly available information, as well as more restricted legal requirements, are needed to improve the care quality and outcomes of patients in long-term care facilities.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.27-57
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• 1994

The objective of running a long-term care institution is to provide services helpful for maintaining, supporting, and improving elderlies' optimum level of physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning. For the purpose of analyzing the current situations of institutional long term care facilities in Korea, 27 facilities were selected proportionately from each of the cities and provinces, out of the total 152 facilities. About 20% of those who were institutionalized during 25 August through 2 Qctober 1993, the 391 elderlies were chosen on a systematic random basis. The instrument of this study was developed by modifying the tools of CARE, MAI and PCTC. A multivariate approach of discriminant analysis and clustering technique were employed for this study. The Stiudy reveals that there is no clear differentiation of goals and functions among the longterm care institutions in Korea. Staffing patte군 of long-term care facilities shows a shortage of nurses, physical therapists, and dieticians. The linkage between acute care facilities and long-term care is weak, and administration of long-term care faciltiy is carried out by non-professionals. They are responsible for assessing health status before entering the facility, and evaluating elderlies' care. Therefore, it is not surprising to find that most of the facilities have accommodated agede regardless of their real needs and health status. Based upon findings of the analysis, this study has classified long-term care facilities into four types : Type I is to help elderlies maintain independence in daily living activities. Type II facilities have the objective of maintaining and improving the current level of elderlies' function. Type III is to maintain maximum independence of elderlies in activities of daily living. And Type IV is identified for the group of facilities designed to restore or improve functional abilities of elderlies. In conclusion, the following suggestions are made : the need for long-term care should be assessed by multidimensional measurement. Institutional long-term care facilities should be classified and developed in response to type of type of care and service need. Both acute and long-term care facilities should be linked together in order to support the evaluation of service operation and program development.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.92-99
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of the income support allowance policy for the care workers on wage level. Methods: The analysis data was constructed using database (DB) of long-term care institution, DB of long-term care personnel status, and DB of health insurance qualification and contribution possessed by National Health Insurance Services. We analyzed the wage status of care workers 2009 to 2016 through basic analysis. We used the difference-in-difference analysis method for the workers who worked in the same institution from 2012 to 2013, The effects of the income allowance policy on wage increase were analyzed. Results: As a result of the net effect of the income support allowance policy, the monthly average wage of the care worker increased by 25,676 won and the hourly wage increased by 478 won. As a result of the analysis, it can be confirmed that the income support allowance policy has achieved some of the goals of raising the wage level of the care workers, and the effect of raising wages for other occupations in the long-term care business can be confirmed. Conclusion: The low wage problem of long-term care workers such as care workers is not the only problem in Korea. In other countries, there are various wage support policies for employees. In particular, it is necessary to refer to the improvement in the treatment of care workers in Japan and wage pass-through in the United States. In addition to wages, there is a need to promote policies to provide employment motivation through efforts to improve their social status and improve their job status and career development for employees in long-term care facilities.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2019

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has emphasized the necessity to build community care, and the interest of health care- long-term care-social welfare system continues. In order to examine the future vision of long-term care for elderly people, which can be a core system in establishing community models for elderly people in the future, we will implement aging in place as a national policy project. It is meaningful to analyze in depth the case of Japan's policy implementation through the amendment process of long-term care insurance system. The purpose of this study is to examine the concept definition, operating system, and major promotion process of the Integrated Care System in Japan and to suggest policy implications for the future Korea long-term care insurance system. As a result of reviewing the operation status and revision process of the long-term care insurance system for establishing the Integrated care system in Japan, it is necessary to clarify the basic principles and construction of community care system, diversification of residence type and upgrading work, establishment of linkage network of health care-long term care-social welfare, expansion of support for family and self-mind.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.496-501
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• 2019

Background: In this study, wage status and wage determinants of care workers were analyzed. Methods: The analysis used database (DB) of long-term care institutions, DB of long-term care institutions, DB of long-term care workers, DB of health insurance qualification, and contribution possessed by National Health Insurance Services. We analyzed the wage status of the care workers from 2009 to 2016 through basic analysis and estimated the factors affecting the wage of the long-term care facilities' care workers using pooled ordinary least squares. Results: The monthly average wage of care workers was raised from Korean won (KRW) 1.37 million in 2009 to KRW 1.52 million in 2016, and the working hours were shortened by 20 hours from 207 hours to 187 hours. Hourly wages increased by KRW 1,329 from KRW 6,831 in 2009 to KRW 8,160 in 2016. The average monthly wage of care workers was affected by gender, age, years of employment, monthly working hours, establishment type, city size, institutional size, the grade of the institution, and management status. In particular, the wage level of the care workers was high when the larger the size of the institution, the better the management status (fill rate), the establishment type is "government and local government" and "corporation," the institutional rating is high, and the facility manager has the first grade of the social worker license. Conclusion: The government should consider aggressive policies to improve the treatment of care workers as well as the quality of long-term care services so that there will be more long-term care facilities that are guaranteed social publicity above a certain level.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-100
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• 2013

Background: This study examined the relationships of dementia, stroke, and combined multimorbidity with long-term care utilizations among older people in South Korea. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 10,130 older adults who used long-term care services in 2010 were analyzed. We used the 5% sample of aged 65 years or older linked with National Health Insurance Corporation registry data of long-term care insurance system. The sample was categorized into three groups: dementia only (47.6%), stroke only (36.3%), and both dementia and stroke (16.1%). We estimated the use of institutional care, home care, and total expenditure of long-term care services, adjusting for the severity of each function (such as daily life, behavior or cognitive change, nursing care needs, and rehabilitation care needs) and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Having dementia symptoms was positively associated with the use of institutional care services, on the other hand, having stroke symptoms was positively related with the use of home care. The total long-term care cost was higher in the group of having both dementia and stroke. Conclusion: Older persons with dementia symptoms and stroke symptoms have different patterns of long-term care utilization, and the multimorbidity increased the overall expenditure of long-term care utilization. These findings imply a need for differentiated management strategy targeting physically and cognitively impaired older persons, and special concerning for persons with multimorbidity conditions for long-term care insurance program in Korea.