Jungnang-gu 'Senior Job Program' Expands by 15% Annually

Senior Social Activity Support Project with 1,705 Participants in 32 Programs, Planned 15% Annual Expansion Until 2022... Strengthened Support for Senior Centers, Expanded Medical and Health Services... Focusing on Jobs, Leisure, and Health for Happy Senior Life Together

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is actively expanding support for local job projects and other initiatives to help senior citizens live vibrant and healthy lives in their later years.

Jungnang-gu has already entered an aged society, with seniors aged 65 and over accounting for about 16% of the total population. Among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul, it ranks 9th in the number of residents aged 65 and older and 3rd in the basic pension recipient rate, indicating many economically vulnerable elderly people.

Accordingly, Jungnang-gu is expanding support for seniors through ▲expansion of senior job and social activity support ▲strengthening support for senior centers ▲medical and health support ▲implementation of customized care services for the elderly.

Among these, the senior job project, which provides social participation and life stability opportunities to basic pension recipients aged 65 and over, is representative. This year, jobs will be provided to 1,705 people, an increase of 232 from the previous year, and the senior job project will be expanded by 15% annually until 2022.

Participants will work up to 30 hours per month, within 3 hours per day, from February to December.

The main participation fields include socially useful public service areas such as ▲‘No-No (老老) Care,’ where healthy seniors care for elderly living alone ▲‘School Zone Traffic Guidance,’ helping children commute safely to and from school ▲‘Cleaning Managers,’ aiming to strengthen the substance of the senior job project.

Support for senior centers, frequently used by the elderly, has also been strengthened. Operating expenses for senior centers, which vary from 380,000 KRW to 540,000 KRW per month depending on the number of users and area, will be increased by 50,000 KRW by 2021. The ‘Lunch Helper’ program, assisting elderly seniors with meal preparation, will support 217 people, an increase of 106 from last year. The ‘Cleaning Helper’ program, maintaining a pleasant environment in senior centers, will support 86 people, 42 more than the previous year.

Medical and health support is also being expanded to ensure healthy aging. In addition to the ‘Dementia Safety Center’ relocated to Sinnae 2-dong last year, a branch of the Dementia Safety Center is operated in Myeonmok 4-dong to improve accessibility for residents in the Myeonmok-dong area. The Dementia Safety Center provides dementia screening, dementia prevention education, and dementia prevention programs for seniors aged 60 and over, leading efforts to help seniors live safely in the community.

As a result, it was included as an excellent case in the regional welfare project evaluation announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2019.

The ‘Customized Care Service for the Elderly’ is also implemented to provide integrated and tailored services to seniors in need of care, such as those living alone, in grandparent-headed households, or elderly couples, supporting a comfortable later life.

For other inquiries, contact the Senior Welfare Division of Jungnang-gu Office (☎2094-1550), and for matters related to the Dementia Safety Center, contact the Health Promotion Division (☎2094-0869) for detailed guidance and explanations.

Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi of Jungnang-gu said, “I hope this senior job project helps seniors experience the joy of working and plan a happy later life,” adding, “We plan to support the happy old age of seniors who have devoted themselves to society through various senior welfare projects, including the senior job project.”

Jungnang-gu Senior Welfare Division (☎2094-1562)