Market scope note: This article covers information from both Korea and the United States. Each item is labeled 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. in the text to indicate which country it applies to.
From the moment a parent is discharged from the hospital, or when walking and daily tasks start to become difficult, families tend to face the same question: 'Should we place them in a facility, or care for them at home?' But in fact, choosing between those two options is not the whole picture. In both countries, systems already exist that allow older adults to continue living in their own homes while receiving comprehensive medical, long-term care, and support services.
🇰🇷 Korea On March 27, 2026, the Act on Integrated Community Care Support for Medical Care, Long-Term Care, and Related Services (돌봄통합지원법, the Integrated Care Support Act) came into full effect nationwide. The law was enacted in March 2024, and after a two-year preparation period, dedicated organizations and staff have been put in place across all 229 시군구 (si-gun-gu, municipal districts) in the country. The core idea is straightforward: for people who have difficulty with daily life due to frailty, illness, or disability, the 시군구 (municipal district) serves as the coordinating hub, connecting them with the integrated services they need so they can remain where they have always lived — not in a hospital or facility.
🇰🇷 Korea This program covers two main groups. Adults aged 65 and older who need combined support across medical care, long-term care, and daily living assistance may apply anywhere in the country, while people with severe disabilities involving high medical needs (such as physical or brain lesion-related disabilities) may access the program in 102 local governments. Notably, there is no income requirement. Older adults who have not qualified for a 장기요양 (long-term care) grade, or who received an out-of-grade determination, are also encouraged to consider applying if they have difficulty with daily activities. For those already receiving 장기요양 (long-term care) services, it is worth consulting about whether visiting medical care, meal support, or housing assistance can be added on top of existing services.
🇰🇷 Korea The application process is not complicated. Individuals or family members can apply in person at the 읍면동 행정복지센터 (eup-myeon-dong community administrative and welfare center) covering their registered address, or at a branch of the 국민건강보험공단 (National Health Insurance Service). Online applications are also accepted through the 복지로 (Bokjiro) website. After applying, the process moves through an integrated assessment survey by the 국민건강보험공단 (National Health Insurance Service), a needs assessment by the local government, and a service plan developed through a 시군구 통합지원회의 (municipal integrated support council), followed by regular monitoring every 3 months. Throughout this process, a personalized plan is designed from more than 30 types of services, including visiting medical care, visiting nursing, visiting care, day and night protective care, meal support, and housing environment improvements (such as removing bathroom thresholds and installing non-slip mats). For inquiries, you can call the 보건복지상담센터 (Health and Welfare Counseling Center) at 129 (no area code needed, free of charge).
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, there is a comparable integrated care program called PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). In February 2026, the 200th PACE program in the country opened its doors, and as of now the program operates in 33 states and Washington, D.C. As of 2026, more than 91,000 older adults are living in their communities through this program. The statistic that 94% of participants continue living in the community rather than in a nursing facility speaks clearly to the program's effectiveness.
🇺🇸 U.S. To be eligible for PACE, four basic conditions must be met: the person must be 55 or older, live within a PACE service area, be certified by the state as needing nursing facility-level care, and be able to live safely in the community with PACE support. Most participants are dual-eligible, meaning they receive both Medicare and Medicaid, and in those cases there is generally little to no out-of-pocket cost. Once enrolled, a multidisciplinary team — including a primary care physician, nurses, occupational therapists, and social workers — provides integrated care covering everything from medical treatment to meals, transportation, and social activities. Nearby PACE programs can be found using the program search tool on Medicare.gov by entering a home address. PACE is available in California, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and other states with large Korean-American communities. A study focused on the Korean-American community in Los Angeles noted that improving language and cultural accessibility remains a key challenge.
Both programs share a common philosophy: rather than forcing a choice between 'facility or home,' they make it possible to receive professional care while continuing to live where one has always lived. If your parents want to stay at home, or if your family wants to honor that wish, these two programs offer a meaningful and practical starting point for expanding your options. Above all, the most important step is simply to apply — that one step makes all the difference.
Sources: Ministry of Health and Welfare policy news (March 2026), Republic of Korea Policy Briefing and Policy Wiki, National Health Insurance Service integrated care guide, Healthcare Herald (March 2026), K-공감 (K-Gongam) Policy Weekly, National PACE Association (NPA, February 2026), MACPAC June 2025 Chapter 4 (PACE overview), NCBI StatPearls PACE (2025), Age in Place Health PACE Statistics, PMC — Community readiness for PACE: Korean Americans in Los Angeles (2025).
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.