South Korea's life expectancy has increased, but its healthy lifespan has decreased, leading to a serious problem where the elderly suffer from illness and pain for an average of 13 years. As South Korea enters a super-aged society, the burden of caregiving is increasing, resulting in more elderly people having to engage in 'solo caregiving'. This has led to tragic cases of poverty, depression, and even caregiver homicide being reported. In particular, the suicide rate for men aged 80 and over is about 3.7 times higher than the overall average, and the suicide rate for women is also significantly higher than other age groups. To address these issues, it is urgent to establish an integrated care system that connects local communities with hospitals.
