Yangcheon-gu Discovers and Supports Over 8,500 Care Crisis Cases in 3 Years

Yangcheon-type Care SOS Center Supports Over 8,500 Cases of Care Gap Households Linked with 29 Service Agencies... Care SOS Best Practice Presentation for 100 Officials and Partner Agencies Held at Yangcheon Digital Media Center on November 20

Mr. A, an elderly person in his 80s living alone in Mok 3-dong, Yangcheon-gu, who receives basic living subsidies, had difficulty moving after undergoing surgery on both knee joints and was using the Yangcheon-gu Care SOS Temporary Home Care Service. When a care worker visiting for management heard faint groans beyond the closed door, they immediately reported it to 119 and entered the premises, finding Mr. A collapsed in the bathroom. They accompanied the responsible official to the hospital, successfully saving the golden time. This heartwarming case was recently uncovered by the Yangcheon-type Care SOS Center as a story of a household in crisis.

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced that it will hold the “Yangcheon-gu Care SOS Best Practice Sharing Meeting” on the 20th to disseminate exemplary cases that have contributed to filling care gaps and preventing solitary deaths through the Care SOS Service over the past three years since its opening in August 2020.

Care SOS is a project that provides customized support ranging from household chores assistance to accompaniment to hospitals, small home repairs, and meal delivery for residents who urgently need care due to sudden illness, accidents, or absence of family caregivers. Over the past three years, the district has swiftly supported about 8,500 care crisis households through agreements with 29 service providers in the region.

Moreover, through on-site surveys of care blind spots and special visiting Care SOS periods, the district has proactively identified and supported patients with severe medical conditions and single-person households requiring medical assistance. Additionally, it has signed discharge patient linkage service agreements with local medical institutions such as the Municipal Seonam Hospital to support the health recovery of residents without family caregivers after discharge.

Mr. B, an elderly resident of Sinjeong 6-dong whose children all live overseas, was in a poor condition unable to manage meals and hygiene independently after losing his spouse and nearly losing sight in both eyes due to glaucoma. The district immediately connected him to the Care SOS Service for daily living support such as meals, cleaning, and laundry, as well as linking him to receive long-term care benefits. The overseas children, who had been anxious due to difficulty returning home, sent a thank-you email upon learning about the care provided by the district office.

Mr. C, an elderly single resident in his 80s living in Sinwol 2-dong, underwent spinal fixation surgery at the local medical institution, Municipal Seonam Hospital, but had no one to care for him after discharge as his children lived far away. The district supported him with temporary home care services through the discharge patient Care SOS Service linkage. Additionally, to prevent secondary accidents such as falls, residential convenience services were provided, including installing safety handrails in the elderly person's bathroom.

In this way, the Yangcheon-gu Care SOS Service is receiving great community support as a “social safety net” that provides tailored services to residents in urgent need, tightly filling care gaps.

Meanwhile, on the 20th at the Yangcheon Digital Media Center, the “Best Practice Sharing Meeting” will be held with about 100 participants including representatives from Care SOS partner organizations and responsible officials. The event will proceed with commendations for meritorious persons who have become role models through dedicated care activities, presentations of exemplary cases, and a congratulatory performance by Heavenly Voice.

Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “Through proactive ‘Yangcheon-type Care Services’ that keep pace with the increasing number of single-person households and accelerating super-aging, we will create a warm city, Yangcheon, that embraces the socially vulnerable.”