Dongdaemun-gu Dolbom SOS Center Plays a Key Role as Crisis Family Problem Solver 'Toktok'

Rapid Service Provision for Care Gap Families: A Strong Support for At-Risk Households... Resolving Care Blind Spots through Temporary Home Care, Short-Term Facilities, Information, and Meal Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor You Deok-yeol) Care SOS Center is gaining attention for effectively playing the role of a problem solver for families in crisis through rapid problem resolution.

Last month, an urgent request for help was received at the Dongdaemun-gu Care SOS Center.

The request came from a daughter and mother caring for a father who is a severe brain lesion disabled person and battling terminal cancer. The daughter was in a situation requiring hospitalization and treatment due to acute hepatitis A with a high risk of shock, along with her mother, who is her caregiver, resulting in a care gap for the father.

Accordingly, the care manager dispatched to the scene judged the care crisis to be severe and quickly decided to provide Care SOS services. A private partner company's caregiver visited six times a week to support temporary home care services such as meals and medication, allowing the daughter to focus on treatment without worry under her mother's care, leading to a rapid recovery and discharge.

The daughter expressed her gratitude in a bright voice, saying, "I was very worried about my father being left alone at home, but I was very surprised to receive services quickly and got help at a crucial time." She also conveyed a wish that "people who are in more difficult situations than me receive timely help."

Since its launch in August last year, the Dongdaemun-gu Care SOS Center provides customized services by visiting residents in need of care directly.

For seniors, disabled persons, and middle-aged people aged 50 and over who require urgent care, services can be accessed after consultation at the local community service center if they meet conditions such as ▲difficulty moving alone or performing daily activities ▲absence or inability of family members to provide care ▲not using public services or experiencing unavoidable service gaps during use.

The Dongdaemun-gu Care SOS Center offers ▲temporary home care (visiting the care recipient’s home and providing personal care) ▲short-term facility care (temporary admission and protection) ▲information provision (consultation on care-related issues) ▲meal provision (meal delivery to maintain basic dietary needs), making every effort to reduce blind spots in care.

From August last year to the present, the Dongdaemun-gu Care SOS Center has provided 280 cases of temporary home care, 6 cases of short-term facility care, 471 cases of information consultation, and 311 cases of meal support, establishing itself as a reliable support for families in care crises.

Service costs are fully supported for low-income groups including recipients and near-poverty classes up to 85% of median income, while other residents can use the services with self-payment. However, due to COVID-19, emergency care cost support has been temporarily expanded up to 100% of median income.

You Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, "As rapid aging and the decline of family functions increase the burden of care within families, the time has come for the public sector to take responsibility for urgent care needs. Through the Care SOS Center, we will not only eliminate care gaps but also actively strive to provide welfare services that residents can feel by integrating and linking detailed care services."