[Seoul District News] Dobong-gu Dolbom SOS Center Provides 'Universal, Integrated, Emergency' Care for Welfare Blind Spots & Emergency Care for Acute Liver Failure Patient A in One Day, Accompanying Breast Cancer Patient B from COVID-19 Testing to Hospitalization and Post-Discharge Care "Reporting and Neighborly Attention Needed"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) Care SOS Center plays a significant role in filling care gaps in the local community by providing 10 types of care services primarily targeting middle-aged and elderly people aged 50 and above who need care, under the slogan of 'Universal Care, Integrated Care, Emergency Care.'
In particular, the Dobong-gu Care SOS Center aims for 'any resident in need of care' to prevent solitary deaths among welfare blind spots and actively supports care crisis households regardless of age once identified.
Mr. A (in his 40s), a single-person household who had quit his job and lived on alcohol for about two months after falling into sorrow due to family estrangement following a divorce, was rushed to 119 emergency services with acute gastrointestinal bleeding and liver failure and received intensive care treatment. Although he survived the critical condition and was discharged, he suffered almost complete loss of vision in both eyes due to acute liver failure sequelae, frequent falls left bruises all over his body, and more urgently, he bore emotional scars.
Mr. A was in a very dangerous situation with weak will to live, potentially leading to extreme choices, but aside from emergency medical expense support, he had nowhere to turn for help.
However, this month, upon referral from a local pastor, the Care SOS Center promptly designated Mr. A as an exceptional support case from the initial consultation and swiftly provided emergency care (dispatching a home care worker, housekeeping and caregiving support, emotional support, hospital accompaniment, thorough cleaning, etc.) within a day. Afterwards, Mr. A, who had asked, "Do I have hope too?" found new hope.
Ms. B (in her 40s), a stage 4 breast cancer patient, suffered from ascites due to chemotherapy, her whole body swollen making breathing difficult and unable to move. Being unmarried and estranged from her family, she could not even inform them about her cancer battle and was a typical welfare blind spot case with no one or system to turn to for help.
In April, Ms. B applied for emergency care after seeing promotional mail sent by the Care SOS Center targeting cancer patients. The center judged that hospital admission was urgent and on the day of the emergency care application, immediately accompanied her for a COVID-19 test and supported her hospital admission.
A week later, Ms. B’s condition worsened to a life-threatening state at the hospital but fortunately recovered and was discharged.
Even after discharge, the Care SOS Center did not relax and from the day of discharge provided emergency care (caregiving and housekeeping support through dispatched care workers, accompaniment to chemotherapy treatments, meal support, etc.). Currently, the beneficiary has become noticeably healthier and expressed gratitude to the Care SOS Center saying, "Thank you for saving me."
Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, stated, “We will actively support residents in need of care through the Care SOS Center so that no one falls into despair thinking they have no one around them, as in these two cases, and provide hope. We will also do our best to promote the Care SOS Center so that many people know about and use it. We ask all residents to report neighbors in need of help to their local community service center.”
If there are neighbors in difficulty or urgent care needs in the Dobong-gu area, reports can be made to the local community service center or the Dobong-gu Care SOS Center.
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