Damyang-gun, Rapid Progress on Elected 8th Term Pledge 'Hyangchon Welfare'

Expanding Check-ins from Twice to Thrice Weekly to Establish a Safety Net for Seniors, Including Solitary Death Prevention

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Damyang-gun is accelerating the realization of the "Hyangchon Welfare" pledge, a promise made during the 8th local government administration.

According to the county on the 18th, the operation of the Elderly Guardians Group will be expanded from twice a week to three times a week to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and solitary deaths.

Damyang-gun's Elderly Guardians Group connects 100 elderly living alone in blind spots who do not receive public services with volunteers on a one-to-one basis to regularly check on their well-being, promote COVID-19 prevention guidelines, and carry out activities to prevent solitary deaths.

An elderly resident living in Daegok-ri, Geumseong-myeon, expressed gratitude, saying, "I feel more reassured by the volunteers who check on me by phone two to three times a week than by my children living in other regions."

A county official said, "We will continuously identify Elderly Guardians Group candidates and expand the scope of operations to establish a reliable safety net for the elderly," adding, "We will promote various elderly care policies to realize the Hyangchon Welfare pledge of the 8th local government administration."

Meanwhile, since the elderly population accounts for 31.6% of the entire county, Damyang-gun has been operating the Elderly Guardians Group since 2016 to establish a safety net for elderly people living alone.