A Study on Securing Care Workers for the Aging Society: Focusing on Foreign Caregivers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of using foreign caregivers as an alternative to stably securing care workers for the elderly that Korea, which has entered an aged society in the shortest period of time, will face in near future. To this end, we conducted in-depth interviews with 4 current foreign caregivers working in long-term care institutions for the elderly after obtaining a caregiver license. We also conducted analysis based on the phenomenological research method of Giorgi (1997). As a result of the analysis, a general structure of care for the elderly by foreign caregivers in long-term care institutions was derived for the purpose of strengthening the influx of foreign caregivers as certified care workers, early labor experience in unequal working conditions and working environments, and pride as an essential workforce providing care services, and the value of care work. Through this analysis, several policy implications were suggested as follows: (1) active job promotion with access to nursing care worker job, (2) strengthening of public intervention to improve service quality, and (3) the enhancement of professionalism through education and promotion system.