Gwangju City Minimizes Care Gaps for Vulnerable Groups by Providing 'Emergency Care Services'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 2nd that it will support the 'Emergency Care Service' to minimize care gaps for vulnerable groups caused by COVID-19.

The Emergency Care Service provides care personnel such as caregivers to homes, social welfare facilities, and medical institutions to ensure that vulnerable groups such as children, people with disabilities, and the elderly are not left in care blind spots due to the suspension of existing care services caused by the resurgence of COVID-19 or confirmed cases among workers or family members.

The emergency care targets in Gwangju include ▲ those who need care while self-isolating alone due to a family member's COVID-19 confirmation or hospitalization ▲ places at risk of care suspension due to confirmed cases or isolation of social welfare facility staff ▲ those who need care among recipients whose existing service support has been suspended due to the spread of COVID-19.

The support includes ▲ providing home care services ▲ external activity support such as grocery shopping, proxy receipt of medicines, and delivery of goods for self-isolated (hospitalized) individuals ▲ internal life support while quarantining together with self-isolated persons ▲ hospital life support such as meal assistance and help with dressing and undressing for confirmed patients.

To this end, Gwangju City is continuously recruiting service providers to form and operate an 'Emergency Care Support Group' consisting of experienced caregivers, disability activity supporters, childcare teachers, and caregivers.

The first round of recruitment for those wishing to participate is open until the 8th, and applications can be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the Gwangju Social Service Institute. For more details, please refer to the Notice Board - Recruitment Announcements on the Gwangju Social Service Institute website.

Ryu Mi-su, Director of the Social Welfare Division of the city, said, "Since the Gwangju Social Service Institute launched the emergency care system in July last year, emergency care services have been provided 668 times. We have established a continuous recruitment system to ensure no disruption in the supply of care personnel in preparation for the resurgence of COVID-19, and we will strive to support so that no care gaps occur."