Research Reports
The Current Challenges and Policy Directions of Dementia Care in Korean Rural Communities
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AuthorKim, Suelynn
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Publication Date2025.07.23
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Original
Purpose of Research
○ South Korea is experiencing a rapid increase in its elderly population, accompanied by a growing number of people with dementia. Dementia imposes a significant burden not only on individuals and their families but also on society due to the associated care costs. For this reason, early diagnosis and preventive management are increasingly emphasized. Rural areas, where the proportion of the super-aged is particularly high, are at greater risk for dementia than urban areas, yet the conditions for managing dementia are relatively poor. This is due to limited healthcare infrastructure and a high proportion of elderly people living alone, which may delay timely diagnosis and treatment.
○ Despite these challenges, governmental efforts to improve dementia care in rural areas have been insufficient, and the issue has not received adequate attention in policy research. Therefore, this study investigates the current status of dementia and dementia care in rural Korea, reviews relevant domestic and international policies and case studies, and proposes key policy tasks necessary to build a dementia care system tailored to the needs of rural areas.
(For more information, please refer to the report.)
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