Gyeonggi-do to Implement Dementia Family Safe Vacation Support System Starting the 10th

Gyeonggi Province is introducing the ‘Dementia Family Care Safe Leave Support System’ to alleviate the caregiving burden on families of dementia patients. Additionally, it will provide support for examination and treatment costs to 50,000 people for early detection and treatment of dementia.

On the 9th, Gyeonggi Province announced the ‘2025 Gyeonggi Province Dementia Care Package’ plan, which includes these measures, and stated that it will be implemented starting from the 10th.

This system supports families caring for dementia patients who must be away from home for a few days due to unavoidable outings or trips, or when family members exhausted from long-term caregiving need a certain period of physical and mental rest.

The government also operates a similar system called the Long-term Care Family Leave System (formerly Dementia Family Leave System). However, this system only allows the use of visiting care services or short-term care facilities for ten days per year, and only provides discounts without cash support, which places a heavy burden on families of dementia patients.

The ‘Dementia Family Care Safe Leave Support’ system implemented by Gyeonggi Province adds to government support by allowing short-term hospitalization at six Gyeonggi Provincial Geriatric Hospitals within the province. The hospitalization period is up to 10 days per year, and the province supports caregiving costs (30,000 KRW per day) up to 300,000 KRW annually during the hospitalization period. Hospitalization fees are the family’s responsibility.

For families not using the geriatric hospitals, the system supports the out-of-pocket expenses incurred when using visiting care services or short-term care facilities up to 200,000 KRW annually (20,000 KRW per day) for up to 10 days per year.

Support for caregiving costs related to the use of geriatric hospitals and out-of-pocket expenses for long-term care institutions is the first of its kind in Korea, introduced by Gyeonggi Province.

Gyeonggi-do Dementia Care Package Information Poster

The choice to use Gyeonggi Provincial Geriatric Hospitals (short-term hospitalization), short-term care facilities, or full-day visiting care depends on the severity and circumstances of the dementia patient.

Gyeonggi Provincial Geriatric Hospitals have ‘Dementia Safe Wards’ equipped with facilities and expertise tailored to the characteristics of dementia patients, enabling customized medical treatment and nursing for each patient. Non-pharmacological treatment programs such as cognitive rehabilitation and craft activities are also provided.

Furthermore, starting this year, Gyeonggi Province has expanded the support targets for early detection and treatment of dementia. The income limit for dementia differential examination cost support (up to 110,000 KRW) has been removed, and the income condition for dementia treatment cost support (360,000 KRW annually) has been relaxed from 120% to 140% of the median income. With the expansion of support for dementia examination and treatment costs, the number of residents benefiting this year has increased to 50,000.

Yu Young-cheol, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Health and Wellness Bureau, emphasized, “Applications for related services such as ‘Dementia Family Care Safe Leave’ can be made by contacting the Gyeonggi Provincial Dementia Center or the city/county dementia safety centers. We will actively support the safe leave system to become a good program that reduces the caregiving burden on families of dementia patients.”