노인요양시설 종사자 보수 실태 및 개선방안에 관한 연구

A Study on the Compensation Status and Improvement Measures for Long-Term Care Facility Workers

(Purpose) The long-term care service field has reached a mature stage, but there are still many challenges. The number of long-term care service users is expected to continue to increase in the future, so the supply scale should be expanded. In order to expand the supply scale, it is necessary to improve the quality of jobs, such as improving the treatment of long-term care service providers in order to attract more professionals to the field. (Design/methodology/approach) A survey was conducted among 1,200 workers employed in 200 long-term care facilities between 15 March and 13 April 2023. The survey was to ascertain the present compensation levels and treatment provisions for workers occupying various roles and positions within long-term care facilities, as well as to understand perceived priorities for improving treatment conditions for long-term care facility workers. (Findings) In order to improve the treatment of long-term care facility workers, first, it is necessary to amend the law that is the basis for the support of labor costs, and to abolish the lump-sum payment system, so that the labor status of care workers can be recognized. Second, it is necessary to adjust the labor cost expenditure ratio for long-term care service provision and payment cost calculation methods, so that the ratio is similar between facilities, and to improve the standards for calculating the average labor costs so that workers do not fall into a low-wage structure. Third, the notification on long-term care service provision and payment cost calculation methods should be amended. Fourth, a wage system that takes into account career should be established. The long-term care personnel continuous support grant system should be established or the existing long-term service incentive grant system should be reformed to improve the level of support. (Research implications or Originality) The establishment of institutional and policy measures to improve the treatment of long-term care facility workers will contribute to improving the quality of long-term care services and the quality of life of the elderly.