Seoul City Provides 'Emergency Care' for Elderly and Disabled Experiencing Care Disruptions Due to COVID-19

Four Customized Support Services: Home Visits, Accompanied Admission, Substitute Workforce Support, and Care During Hospitalization
Seojeonghyeop Acting Mayor "Committed to Uninterrupted Support for Vulnerable Groups"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 22nd that it will provide emergency care services to elderly and disabled individuals whose care was interrupted due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The service targets are long-term care benefit recipients among the elderly and activity support benefit recipients among the disabled whose care was interrupted due to COVID-19. This includes cases where care is essential but a care gap occurred because the family member or caregiver was confirmed positive or quarantined, or when the individual must enter a quarantine facility due to contact with a confirmed case. Four types of customized services are provided: home visits, accompanying admission, substitute personnel support, and care during hospitalization.

Since March last year, when the COVID-19 spread was severe, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Social Service Institute have formed and operated an ‘Emergency Care Support Team,’ deploying 129 personnel including caregivers and disability activity supporters to provide comprehensive support ranging from daily living to outdoor activities and hygiene management. Additional personnel recruitment is also underway.

In particular, amid the surge of cluster infections at long-term care hospitals and residential/living facilities for the disabled at the end of last year, support has been expanded since early this year to cover cases where care gaps occur due to facility cohort isolation. Support has also been added for cases where severely disabled individuals with mobility difficulties are hospitalized in dedicated hospitals after testing positive for COVID-19.

Joo Jin-woo, CEO of the Seoul Social Service Institute, stated, "The importance of emergency care has recently increased for elderly care facilities and others due to COVID-19," adding, "For vulnerable groups in care, the risk of service interruption can become a life crisis, so we will make every effort to respond promptly."

Seo Jung-hyup, Acting Mayor of Seoul, said, "Seoul will continue to provide active support such as expanding personnel to ensure that essential care services for socially vulnerable groups are provided without interruption."