Seongbuk-gu Emergency Care Services Become More Comprehensive

On the 25th, Signed 'Care SOS Project Service Provider Agreement' with 16 Institutions Possessing Expertise and Experience

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is expanding emergency care services, such as accompanying residents to sudden hospital visits and assisting with urgent home repairs.

The Care SOS Center is expanding its existing four major services?temporary home care, short-term facilities, meal support, and information counseling?by adding accompaniment and residential convenience support, increasing the total to six services.

To this end, on the 25th, Seongbuk-gu Office signed a “Care SOS Project Service Provider Agreement” with 16 organizations, including social enterprises, self-support enterprises, and village enterprises with expertise and experience.

Seongbuk Regional Self-Support Center (CEO Lee Hyo-sam), Magic Broom (CEO Kim Jeong-sik), and Cheongbaek Clean (CEO Jeong Gyu-sam) participated in the residential convenience service.

Thirteen organizations participated in the accompaniment support service, including Social Cooperative Namu and Yeolmae (CEO Kim Kyung-ye), Family-like Senior Care Welfare Center (CEO Go Jae-man), Daonnuri Visiting Care Center (CEO Kim Byung-chan), Goguryeo Home Welfare Center (CEO Go Seon-ae), Dasarang Senior Home Care Center (CEO Kim Do-kyung), Gilsang Home Welfare Center (CEO Kim Myung-hee), Neulbom Visiting Care Center (CEO Kim Hye-ok), Star in the Sky Visiting Care Center (CEO Jang Mi-ae), Sungsil Care Center (CEO Moon Kyung-sook), Hanmaeum Senior Care Center (CEO Kim Byung-gon), Seongbuk Home Senior Welfare Center (CEO Lee Soon-duk), Keunsarang Senior Welfare Center (CEO Hwang Young-sook), and Social Cooperative Seongbuk Nanum Care Center (CEO Yoo Young-chang).

A Seongbuk-gu official stated, “With the addition of 16 new organizations to the existing 25, a total of 41 specialized institutions will provide comprehensive welfare services ranging from emergency care to daily convenience services for residents who have difficulty receiving help.”

The accompaniment support service is a customized service for individuals who frequently require hospital visits or face sudden unavoidable outings and have no caregivers nearby to assist them.

It is expected that the professional staff of the partner organizations will play a significant role in accompanying clients to hospitals or destinations, thereby alleviating the caregiving burden at home.

The residential convenience service assists with simple home repairs, cleaning, disinfection, and pest control. It is noteworthy as an expansion of the “Elderly-Friendly Customized Housing Management Service,” which Seongbuk-gu first launched nationwide in 2018. Many care recipients urgently need improvements in their living environments, so this service is expected to greatly enhance their quality of life.

The Seongbuk-gu Care SOS Center began its services in August 2020. Despite the COVID-19 situation, 25 organizations have continuously provided 961 emergency services, significantly contributing to overcoming care gaps.

The service targets elderly, seniors, disabled individuals, and middle-aged residents aged 50 and above who have difficulty moving alone or performing independent daily activities, lack family caregivers, or whose caregivers are unable to provide care, as well as those excluded from public care services.

Residents wishing to use the Care SOS service can apply at their local community service center. After visiting the applicant’s home and creating a customized care plan, appropriate services are provided to the user.

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “COVID-19 was an opportunity for us to recognize the role and importance of public care. We are not only reassured by the specialized organizations that have joined hands to support residents who need care but cannot ask for help nearby, but also proud that Seongbuk-gu’s welfare has taken a step forward.”