Gyeongbuk Province Expands Customized Elderly Care Services... Hiring 3,300 Life Support Workers

612 Billion Invested, an 8% Increase from Last Year
Support Targets Rise from 46,000 to 49,000

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the 24th that it will invest 61.2 billion KRW (an increase of 5.2 billion KRW compared to the previous year) in the Customized Elderly Care Service Project this year, providing care services to about 49,000 low-income vulnerable elderly people, approximately 3,000 more than the 46,000 served last year.

At the 58 Customized Elderly Care Service providers in the province, the number of dedicated social workers and life support workers, which was about 3,000 last year, is planned to increase by 10% to 3,300 this year. The monthly salary for life support workers is 1,137,000 KRW (working 5 days a week, 5 hours a day), which is a 1.5% increase compared to last year.

The Customized Elderly Care Service is a project that provides services after a selection survey to elderly people aged 65 or older who are basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty class, or basic pension recipients, excluding those who are subject to similar overlapping projects, and who have difficulties in physical or mental functions or are living alone or in elderly couple households requiring care.

The care provision time is less than 16 hours per month for the general care group, and between 16 hours and less than 40 hours per month for the intensive care group, who have physical function limitations and face difficulties in daily life.

Elderly people who wish to receive the Customized Elderly Care Service can apply anytime throughout the year by visiting the resident center of their address's eup, myeon, or dong in person or, if visiting is difficult, by phone or fax.

Park Se-eun, Director of the Elderly Welfare Division of Gyeongbuk Province, stated, "Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic limiting meetings with family and neighbors, we will put more effort into the Customized Elderly Care Project to alleviate the feelings of alienation and depression that elderly people may feel and to help them lead healthy daily lives."