Despite a variety of differences in size, location, population characteristics, social organization, and cultural values and traditions, South Korea and the United States face dramatic increases in the numbers and proportions of older adults. Population aging raises profound questions about current and future eldercare arrangements in both countries. This article compares eldercare in the informal system of family caregiving and the formal system of government policies and public and private services in the United States and South Korea. Critical issues about changing conditions in each country and the impact of such changes for eldercare planning are addressed with attention to how the experiences of providing care for vulnerable elders in each country may be informative for the other.
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