Haenam-gun Strengthens Customized Elderly Welfare for 'Creating a Happy Haenam for Seniors'

60% of Welfare Budget Allocated to Elderly Welfare, Providing Comprehensive Support from Jobs to Leisure and Care

Haenam-gun Senior Citizens' Day and Senior Month Commemoration Event (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] On the 11th, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it is accelerating the expansion of the foundation for a happy old age through various customized welfare services.

In particular, since the elderly faced the greatest difficulties due to COVID-19, the county plans to focus all efforts on restoring the daily lives and improving the welfare of the elderly, who account for nearly 35% of the total population.

In this regard, in celebration of Senior Citizens Month, the Senior Citizens Day events in 14 towns and townships have been switched to in-person gatherings and are being held simultaneously. Starting with Sanim-myeon on the 7th, the Senior Citizens Day events continue until the end of October to comfort the elderly who joined forces to overcome COVID-19, and commendations from the governor and county head will be awarded to 45 elderly individuals.

This year, the county is investing 100.5 billion KRW, which is 60% of the welfare budget of 168.9 billion KRW, in elderly welfare.

First, 7.7 billion KRW is being invested in the senior job project, which is the core of elderly economic activities, operating 43 project groups with 2,168 participants this year.

To operate village senior centers, which have become the center of leisure activities for elderly residents in farming and fishing villages, a budget of 3.46 billion KRW is being used to support operating expenses, heating and cooling costs, lunch expenses, supplementary food costs, and government grain supplies.

Additionally, all 595 senior centers in the county are enrolled in fire and liability insurance to prepare for safety accidents among the elderly. Pest control devices have been installed, and disinfection is conducted twice a year to prevent infectious diseases, ensuring that the elderly can safely use the senior centers.

For facility improvements of senior centers, following the construction of two village senior centers last year, this year about 80 senior centers received support for urgent repairs and functional enhancements such as wallpapering, flooring, boiler replacement, and restroom repairs. Furthermore, to provide convenience to elderly users, 354 senior centers were supplied with standing tables.

Moreover, public bathhouses primarily used by the elderly have been newly built in Samsan-myeon and Songji-myeon, completing the installation of public bathhouses in all township-level areas.

Along with this, about 6,000 elderly people aged 80 and above receiving basic pensions are provided with discount coupons for bathing and beauty services, contributing to their vibrant old age and the revitalization of the local economy. The discount coupons can be used at bathhouses and beauty salons within Haenam-gun.

Customized services such as tailored care services for solitary elderly who need care and emergency safety assurance services are also being expanded. Treatment improvement allowances are being paid to workers at 20 elderly nursing facilities who are on the front lines caring for elderly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, as well as to workers at home welfare facilities and home long-term care institutions.

In addition, selected in the 2022 Robot Utilization Socially Vulnerable Benefit Support Project, humanoid care robots have been distributed to 10 elderly nursing facilities, piloting a smart elderly care project.

Myung Hyun-kwan, head of Haenam-gun, said, “As the population aged 65 and over accounts for 34.4% of the total population, entering a super-aged society, we are intensively investing in improving elderly welfare with the determination that the happiness of the elderly is directly linked to the happiness of the residents. We will build a robust safety net for the elderly to support their vibrant lives.”

Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun alwatros@asiae.co.kr