Seongdong-gu Provides 'Happiness Lunchboxes' to Elderly Vulnerable to COVID-19

Meal Delivery for Food-Insecure Children, Emergency Care at Dolbom SOS Center, and More

Seongdong Senior Welfare Center preparing to deliver substitute meals for elderly people struggling due to the suspension of free meal services

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is making every effort by establishing focused situation management measures for emergency care facilities such as elderly nursing homes, homeless shelters, and child care facilities in the region, as well as action plans for vulnerable groups, due to the prolonged spread of COVID-19 in the local community.

Last month, the district closed 412 social welfare facilities due to confirmed cases in the area, but some elderly nursing care facilities, homeless shelters, and single-parent protection facilities remain in limited emergency operation as there are no alternative care options.

Additionally, daycare centers and elementary after-school care facilities are providing emergency care on behalf of working parents.

Accordingly, the district has strengthened safety rules at welfare facilities operating on an emergency or reduced basis, including enhanced access control, a ‘3-minute hygiene pledge time,’ and ‘staggered seating during meal times.’

Upon entering the facilities, daily morning temperature checks and hand sanitization are conducted, and before work begins, a 3-minute hygiene pledge time is held to reaffirm daily compliance with lifestyle rules such as mask-wearing and handwashing, which may be neglected due to the prolonged situation.

Furthermore, institutions where meals are served have extended or adjusted meal times to disperse users, ensuring a distance of more than 2 meters when seated and arranging staggered seating.

Disinfection efforts are also intensified. Facility disinfection is conducted at least once daily, and doorknobs, elevators, buttons, and handles are disinfected at least twice daily according to the manual.

To minimize the inconvenience to residents caused by long-term facility closures, the district actively provides guidance on program refund policies and extensions of usage periods.

Due to the suspension or reduction of various welfare services provided to vulnerable groups caused by the closure of welfare institutions, management of basic livelihood security recipients, impoverished crisis households, and health-vulnerable groups who require care is being strengthened.

From the 23rd to the 25th of last month, the district completed welfare checks on a total of 10,968 health-vulnerable individuals, including elderly living alone and middle-aged single-person households in the area, and continues weekly phone consultations with impoverished and care crisis households. They verify health status, possession of hygiene supplies, and care needs, taking necessary actions and reporting any special cases to the Seongdong-gu Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters for handling.

For elderly people struggling due to the suspension of free meal services at four senior welfare centers, alternative meals consisting of instant rice, soup, and side dishes for 4 to 5 days are delivered directly to their homes or provided for pick-up upon request. In the future, the district plans to increase the provision of cooked meals prepared directly by nutritionists and cooks at the meal centers.

For children at risk of missing meals, simple meals or ‘Happy Lunchboxes’ prepared by social enterprises are currently being delivered to their homes as substitute meals.

Additionally, the elderly customized care service has been converted to a phone-based welfare check service, and the willingness for visit services is surveyed. For children, elderly, and disabled individuals who temporarily require care due to caregiver self-quarantine, the ‘Care SOS Center’ provides emergency care.

Seongdong-gu Mayor Jung Won-oh said, “The most vulnerable people suffer the greatest difficulties in emergency disaster situations,” and added, “We will do our utmost to provide uninterrupted welfare services to ensure no damage occurs due to COVID-19.”