‘Seongdong Dolbom SOS Center’ Expands Care to Middle-Aged and Older Single-Person Households, Gaining Popularity

‘Seongdong Dolbom SOS Center’ Expands Service Recipients and Support Targets in 2020...Eases Cost Support Criteria for Top-tier Groups, Extends Service to Middle-aged and Older Single-person Households

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Mr. Kim, a 74-year-old senior living in Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu, was in urgent need of help not only for meals but also for basic physiological needs after undergoing spinal surgery due to an accident, which made it difficult for him to move. Although he applied for long-term care certification and the comprehensive elderly care service, he was not eligible. The one who helped him was a care manager from the ‘Seongdong Care SOS Center.’

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Wono) has been operating the ‘Seongdong Care SOS Center’ since last year to provide emergency care for residents facing sudden crises like Mr. Kim, and it will significantly expand its target recipients in 2020.

The ‘Care SOS Center’ is a one-stop integrated care service window where care managers directly visit vulnerable groups such as seniors and people with disabilities who have no one to care for them in emergencies like accidents or illnesses, and connect and provide customized services. Eight major care services are offered: temporary home care, short-term facility provision, mobility support, housing convenience, meal support, welfare checks, health support, and information counseling.

Selected as a pilot district in July last year, Seongdong-gu provided a total of 2,676 customized care services to 1,564 recipients by the end of last year.

In particular, temporary home care services, where caregivers visit homes to assist with household chores and daily living, meal support services such as lunch boxes and porridge for those who have difficulty cooking, and housing convenience services that help with simple home repairs like replacing LED lights and faucets were highly popular.

From January this year, the scope of service cost support has been expanded. Previously, cost support was limited to recipients and low-income households below 50% of the median income; now it is extended to households earning up to 85% of the median income. Starting in July, the service target will also expand from only seniors and people with disabilities to include middle-aged households aged 50 and above.

To accommodate the expanded service recipients, the district will add 22 care managers to each community center and increase the number of service providers from 31 to 34, strengthening the care support system.

Mayor Jeong Wono said, “In today’s era of aging and changing family structures, where diverse care services are required, the ‘Care SOS Center’ is playing a leading role in public care. Building on last year’s pilot project, we will do our best to ensure that more recipients receive emergency care services this year and that all Seongdong residents can enjoy a happy life.”