Eunpyeong-gu Launches 'Senior Hospital Escort Service'

Easy application via dedicated number for low-income elderly with mobility difficulties... Accompaniment from home to hospital and taxi transport service supported (up to 120,000 KRW per person annually)... Pilot selection of beneficiaries until March, with plans to expand operation from April

Eunpyeong-gu, following its implementation of hospital accompaniment services for postpartum mothers, will also provide hospital accompaniment services for elderly residents with mobility difficulties.

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that starting this year, care workers will visit the homes of elderly residents with mobility difficulties (recipients of basic livelihood security and near-poverty class) and accompany them to hospitals located in Seoul through the "Elderly Hospital Accompaniment Assistance Project."

Eunpyeong-gu ranks fourth among Seoul's autonomous districts in terms of elderly population. Although the number of elderly recipients and near-poverty class seniors who find it difficult to visit hospitals on their own is increasing, there has been no system to address these challenges. Therefore, this project has been promoted as a pledge of the 8th local government administration this year.

Unlike existing accompaniment services, the "Elderly Hospital Accompaniment Assistance Project" establishes a "Hospital Accompaniment Network" to identify eligible individuals and connect them with necessary welfare services.

Additionally, the project utilizes "Baekse Call," a taxi call service without fare charges for elderly residents in the area, providing additional transportation support of up to 120,000 KRW per person annually.

The district designated the Seoul Eunpyeong Senior Welfare Center as the executing agency, assigned one dedicated social worker, and selected six accompaniment personnel through the Eunpyeong Senior Club, who received job training. These personnel assist with hospital registration and payment, medication receipt, and health monitoring, acting as guardians.

Eunpyeong-gu plans to pilot the service until March for low-income elderly residents using the customized elderly care service who require hospital accompaniment assistance, and expand the operation from April. The service operates on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and can be used by making a reservation via a dedicated phone number.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, "From now on, elderly residents with mobility difficulties will no longer need to struggle alone to visit hospitals. Through this project, we expect them to visit hospitals comfortably, receive prompt treatment, recover their health, and improve their quality of life."