Gwangjin-gu Operates 'Care SOS Center' to Address Care Gaps for Disabled and Middle-Aged Adults

Care Managers Visit to Identify Needed Services for Customized Care for Elderly, Disabled, and Middle-Aged Adults

The Care SOS Center Business Agreement Ceremony held in the district office on the 31st of last month

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is launching the ‘Care SOS Center’ project from this month to address the care gap for the elderly and disabled caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn.

The district signed a business agreement with eight care service providers on the 31st of last month and held an expansion launch ceremony with all autonomous districts in Seoul on the 4th, officially starting the project operation.

The project targets elderly, disabled, and middle-aged residents aged 50 and above who need care but have difficulty moving alone, lack family members to provide care, and are currently unable to use public care services.

The operation procedure is that residents in need of care apply at their local community service center, after which a care manager from the ‘District Care SOS Center Integrated Support Center’ visits the applicant directly to assess the required care services and then provides the services through specialized care institutions.

The care services provided by the district include five types: ▲ home visits and daily living support ▲ accompaniment for outings ▲ housing environment inspection, repair, and disinfection ▲ meal support for stable nutrition ▲ customized information provision and counseling.

In particular, this project temporarily relaxes the income criteria for support due to COVID-19, fully covering care service costs up to 1.56 million KRW per person annually for those with a median income of 100% or less, while other residents can use the services at their own expense.

District Mayor Kim Seon-gap said, “As the demand for care services has increased in many households due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, we have launched this project to close the care gap. We will directly identify the care services residents need and establish a detailed care system to eliminate welfare blind spots.”