Caregivers in hospital

When you are admitted, someone has to be at the bedside. There are three options.

The three options

1. Integrated nursing care ward — nursing staff also provide personal care. No family member needs to stay and health insurance applies. The questions are whether the ward exists and whether a bed is free.
2. A hired caregiver — you engage one separately. You pay in full, charged by the day.
3. Family care — a relative provides care. No cost, but hard to combine with a job.

How to arrange it

1. At admission, ask whether there is an integrated nursing ward.
2. If there is, apply for a bed and check where you are in the queue.
3. If not, ask the hospital for the caregiver association or agency they work with.
4. For a hired caregiver, confirm the daily rate, hours and whether meals are your responsibility in advance.
5. Write down the terms and contact details.

What you need

• Information on the patient's condition (mobility, help needed with meals)
• A shared language — request interpretation in advance if needed
• A means of payment

Where to go

• Hospital administration desk or nursing office (integrated ward enquiries)
• Hospital social work office (linking to support)
• 1577-1000 National Health Insurance Service
• 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre

Questions people ask

Caregiver costs are too high. Look first for a hospital with an integrated nursing ward — health insurance applies and the burden is lower. Ask the social work office about support schemes.

The caregiver and I can't communicate. Tell the hospital or agency in advance about language needs. Writing key phrases on paper helps.

I'm unhappy with the caregiver. You can ask the agency for a replacement. If there is a problem, tell the hospital too.

Is long-term care insurance different? Yes. Long-term care insurance is a separate scheme from hospital caregiving. Ask 1577-1000.

Take care

Never agree caregiving terms verbally only. Confirm the daily rate, hours and any extra charges. Look after the patient's valuables and keep large sums out of the ward.

Related

hospitalization · surgery-cost · hospital-bill-understand · medical-fee-support · rehabilitation

Source

National Health Insurance Service www.nhis.or.kr / As of 2026-08