Haenam-gun, Spring Breeze Blows into Senior Centers Recovering from COVID-19

Injecting 5 Billion KRW to Revitalize Village Community Centers with Various Convenience Supports

[Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] With the lifting of COVID-19 social distancing measures, village senior centers are regaining vitality after a long time.

Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, is actively expanding support projects to guarantee elderly life by revitalizing senior centers operated as central spaces for village life.

First, a budget of 3.46 billion KRW is being invested this year to support operating expenses, heating and cooling costs, lunch expenses, supplementary food costs, and government rice for seniors using the senior centers.

Last year, new senior centers were built in Oesong, Sanim-myeon, and Oebong, Bukil-myeon, and this year, 200 million KRW is being invested to continuously carry out renovation and function reinforcement projects to improve the senior center environment.

In addition, aging and non-repairable home appliances are being replaced annually, and this year, refrigerators, televisions, and air conditioners will be newly provided to 100 locations.

Especially this year, 150 million KRW will be invested to expand the distribution of dining tables to 354 senior centers to ensure convenience and joint meal comfort for seniors using the centers, supporting joint meals and other activities.

To protect seniors from accidents that may occur during the use of senior centers and to create a safe leisure space for the elderly, all 595 senior centers are collectively enrolled in comprehensive property insurance and gas liability insurance, and emergency first aid kits are placed in the centers to respond to emergencies.

Also, to prevent infectious diseases from mosquitoes, flies, and other insects, pest control devices have been installed in all senior centers, and disinfection is conducted twice a year.

With the resumption of senior leisure activities, professional instructors have been dispatched to 26 senior centers in eup and myeon branches to operate health management, singing classes, and hobby classes, while five senior colleges are being operated to fully support active senior activities.

County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan stated, “As the COVID-19 situation eases, village senior centers, which are the central activity spaces for seniors, are regaining vitality. We will continue to make every effort to create senior centers as pleasant and safe resting places so that seniors can comfortably use them as leisure and living spaces.”

Meanwhile, Haenam-gun has entered a super-aged society where the elderly population aged 65 and over accounts for more than 33.9% of the total population.

Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun