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Review
. 2025 May;21(5):e70268.
doi: 10.1002/alz.70268.

Dementia care in a rapidly aging society

Karen Eggleston  1 , Daejung Kim  2
Affiliations
Review

Dementia care in a rapidly aging society

Karen Eggleston et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 May.

Abstract

Introduction: As one of the most rapidly aging societies globally, Korea's efforts to mitigate the social burden of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) may provide valuable insights.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods review of studies and policies related to dementia care in Korea over the past 25 years, including quantitative analysis of administrative and comparative data.

Results: Estimates suggest a high social burden from ADRD, with annual costs increasing from 0.9% to 3.8% of gross domestic product between 2019 and 2050. Pilot programs for integrated community care and hospice palliative care reveal the advantages of innovating from a foundation of national health insurance and long-term care insurance, as well as the continuing challenges of appropriately designing programs and incentives for early detection, integrated care, and late-life palliative care.

Discussion: A rigorous analysis of programs addressing uneven quality and a study of the impact of integrated care models for home- and community-based services would be valuable.

Highlights: A mixed-method review highlights the challenges of rapid aging in Korea. Universal health and long-term care systems support innovation for dementia care. Dementia costs are projected to increase from 0.9% to 3.8% of gross domestic product in 2019-2050. Pilots of integrated community care and hospice palliative care show promise. Rigorous analysis of programs to address uneven quality would be valuable.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Korea; Long‐Term Services and Supports; caregiving; dementia; gender roles; long‐term care; long‐term care insurance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Author disclosures are available in the Supporting Information

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
At‐home long‐term care recipients aged 80+, percentage of total population aged 80+. Source: OECD Statistics.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Community care pilot project in Korea. Source: Author adaptation of Figure 4 of Yoo and Park (2022).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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