A Study on the Demand for Foreign Caregivers (Long-Term Care Workers) for the Health and Safety of Older Adults

This study investigates the demand for foreign caregivers (long-term care workers) to ensure the health and daily safety of older adults. A survey was conducted targeting 73 institutions in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, including 6 acute-care hospitals, 23 long-term care hospitals, 20 nursing homes, and 24 social welfare facilities. Data were collected via questionnaires distributed through email and telephone interviews to gather opinions from staff members of these care institutions. For data analysis, SPSS Version 21.0 was used. Frequencies and percentages were calculated to examine general characteristics of the institutions and the perceived need for foreign caregivers, and statistical significance was tested. Among the surveyed institutions, 49% of respondents in Daegu reported that caregiver staffing was adequate, whereas 70% of respondents in Gyeongbuk indicated that staffing was inadequate, highlighting regional differences. When analyzed by staff position, 83% of department heads reported difficulties in securing adequate caregiver personnel. Regarding the intention to hire foreign caregivers, 83% of long-term care hospitals indicated staffing difficulties, suggesting a severe shortage of caregivers in these institutions. Overall, the findings show that Gyeongbuk faces substantial challenges in caregiver staffing, and most long-term care hospitals express a strong need for foreign caregivers, emphasizing the necessity of developing fundamental policy measures to address this issue.