Experts call for integrated recovery-phase rehabilitation in an aging society

A forum has been established to explore the direction of recovery-phase rehabilitation and expand medical infrastructure in an aging society.

The Korean Society of Convalescence Rehabilitation held its fall academic conference on Wednesday at the Kim Koo Museum and Library under the theme “Recovery Rehabilitation: The Best Way Home.” The conference was hosted by the Korean Rehabilitation Medical Institutions Association and organized by the Korean Society of Convalescence Rehabilitation.

Founded on March 27 of this year, the Korean Society of Convalescence Rehabilitation is a specialized academic organization dedicated to advancing research and policy development in the field of recovery-phase rehabilitation.

Its purpose is to enhance the quality of rehabilitation treatment through research, investigation, and educational activities in the rehabilitation field, thereby promoting healthy longevity in Korea as it faces a super-aged society and contributing to reducing social costs. It is an open academic organization where multidisciplinary professionals involved in recovery rehabilitation can participate, including rehabilitation medicine specialists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, clinical psychologists, social workers, and administrators.

“Knowing how difficult it is to rehabilitate patients and return them home, I stepped out into the wilderness with a pure heart, determined to fulfill my mission and the calling of our times as a rehabilitation medicine specialist,” said Woo Bong-sik, chairman of the society, in his congratulatory address. “I hope we will join forces to become companions who together shoulder the responsibilities of Korea's recovery and rehabilitation, and its super-aged society.”

Kim Yong-ik, chairman of Care and Future Foundation, who presented in the special session, spoke on the topic of “Rehabilitation Medical Institutions and Integrated Care.” Kim emphasized the transition to a community-centered integrated care system, stating, “Deinstitutionalization and de-familialization are impossible without strengthening social infrastructure centered on rehabilitation.”

Noting that over 70 percent of caregiving still falls on women, Kim said, “We must move beyond the current care system that shifts responsibility solely onto families, toward a structure where the state and local communities share responsibility.”

He proposed an integrated approach to healthcare and welfare as a core strategy for community-integrated care. “Currently, seniors or people with disabilities must apply separately for activity support or long-term care services. However, the most ideal method is to combine these two like ‘bibimbap’ and deliver them together from the start,” Kim suggested.

He also raised the necessity for a community-based, circular care structure, saying, “We must create a structure where patients can return home through a circular system connecting hospitals, facilities, and the community. The problem is that once someone enters a facility, they often cannot leave.”

Kim further advocated for expanding home visits and home-based medical care.

Regarding home-visit medical care, he said, “Elderly patients often take medications redundantly or skip them altogether. We must transition beyond mere welfare checks by doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and social workers visiting homes to providing substantive medical care services.”

Commenting on home-based medical care, Kim explained the need for housing modifications. Citing overseas examples, he described “supported housing.”

Kim explained that his is long-term rental housing, similar to a retirement community, but equipped with communal living support functions, such as cleaning, laundry, and meals, while also designed to allow for private living. This housing is a combination of physical space and services that support human life. He added that in Europe, 2-10 percent of the elderly population is supplied with such social housing, and Japan is also increasing the number of supported housing households.

Sohn Tae-won, a section chief at the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Medical Institution Policy Division, presented on “The Future of Rehabilitation Medical Institutions in a Super-Aged Society.”

“The population aged 65 and over is rapidly increasing, leading us into a super-aged society. Conversely, the youth population is decreasing, and the need for rehabilitation medical reform is currently high,” Sohn noted.

He continued, “We are aiming to secure a total of 16,725 beds. From 2021 to 2024, there were 180,000 acute-phase patients. As of 2024, 13-14 percent (24,000-25,000 patients) are receiving treatment at rehabilitation medical institutions. We believe this should be increased to 20 percent, or 36,000 patients."

Regarding regional bed allocation, he stated, “During Phase 1 (2020-2023), 45 facilities (8,500 beds) were designated as recovery-phase rehabilitation medical institutions. However, regions like South Jeolla Province, Ulsan, and Sejong have yet to be designated,” he said. “We are promoting potential rehabilitation medical institutions through advanced briefings and are reviewing participation announcements and additional designations.”

He continued, "Phase 3 (starting in 2026) plans to expand to 100-150 facilities (15,000-25,000 beds) and broaden the target diseases. The first priority is to establish a balanced Phase 3 designation plan that considers regional equilibrium. Regional imbalance must be avoided to prevent disparities; the Ministry of Health and Welfare is developing a support system to ensure fair designation rules."

In response, Kim Yun-hee, president of the Korean Society of Convalescence Rehabilitation, said, “The key to the success of recovery-phase rehabilitation medical institutions is not good facilities, but that rehabilitation medicine specialists directly see, touch, evaluate, and prescribe for patients every day.” If we only focus on increasing beds without guaranteeing quality, the trust built in the system so far could collapse.”

Kim continued, “Lowering quality to increase quantity will inevitably have a long-term negative impact on the public's right to health. Establishing national standards through discussions in a few bodies, like an operating committee, is a very dangerous approach.”

Sohn replied, “We will take this into consideration and discuss it thoroughly with the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.”