Autonomy in later life is often examined through independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), or framed as decision-making capacity—an important but partial dimension. These approaches do not fully capture the lived experience of autonomy in everyday aging and care. For older adults receiving daily support, autonomy is shaped or constrained by the care structures in which they live. Because national policy frameworks mediate these dynamics, the Korean case is salient. South Korea introduced long-term care insurance in 2008 and piloted community-based integrated care in 2019, with nationwide implementation planned for 2026. Within this evolving context, examining how care structures support autonomy is crucial. This study builds on prior work, including a phenomenological analysis of lived experiences of autonomy and a social network analysis of care arrangements. Abductive reasoning is applied to integrate these findings with ecological systems theory and the concept of relational autonomy, drawing on person-centered care as a guiding framework. Data consist of in-depth interviews with nine older adults receiving daily care and 13 caregivers, with analysis ongoing and recruitment continuing. Preliminary findings suggest that autonomy is sustained through care structures operating at three levels. At the existential–practice level, routines that acknowledge bodily change and temporality help preserve agency. At the relational–network level, reciprocity and negotiated roles foster self-expression. At the lifeworld–system level, accessible community resources and responsive institutions enable participation and voice. Together, these insights highlight autonomy as integral to realizing person-centered care. The study advances an emerging framework toward a mid-range theory that reframes autonomy beyond functional independence and decision-making, offering conceptual implications for strengthening long-term and community care systems.