Support for Travel Expenses Provided for 30 Inhabited Islands Designated as 'Vulnerable Areas'
Incheon City is strengthening support for residents in remote island and mountainous areas who are underserved by care services. On the 24th, the city announced that it will implement the 'Vulnerable Area Care Service Support Project' targeting 30 inhabited islands in Ganghwa, Ongjin, and Jung-gu, with a budget of over 300 million won including national funds.
This project designates island areas where it is difficult to receive daily care services, housekeeping and nursing visit services, and community services as vulnerable areas, and supports travel expenses such as toll fees, ferry fares, accommodation, and meal costs. Private care service providers can claim additional expenses from the Incheon Social Service Agency after providing services to island residents.
Residents of the 30 designated vulnerable islands can apply for care services at their local eup/myeon/dong administrative welfare centers or the Incheon Social Service Agency and receive services by paying a co-payment (differentiated according to income level). There are 18 providers for daily care and 26 providers for housekeeping and nursing visit care.
Until now, island residents were unable to use care services at all due to the absence of service providers near their residences or reluctance to provide services because of long distances and manpower shortages.
An official from Incheon City stated, "In the case of remote island and mountainous areas, round-trip ferry operation and travel times take more than 4 hours, and additional costs such as ferry fees and tollgate charges occur, resulting in low profitability relative to time, which hindered smooth service provision." He added, "Through the vulnerable area support project, we will ensure that all Incheon citizens can receive care services regardless of where they live."
Meanwhile, daily care provides home care, housekeeping, meal and nutrition support, and hospital accompaniment within a monthly limit of 1,296,000 won for youth (ages 9?34) and middle-aged adults (ages 40?64) who need care.
Additionally, housekeeping and nursing visit services offer up to 40 hours per month (688,000 won) of home visit housekeeping and nursing (including physical care and rehabilitation exercise assistance) for severely disabled persons and patients with rare and intractable diseases whose income is below 70% of the median income. Community services include 22 programs such as therapeutic horseback riding and psychological counseling, with a monthly limit of 320,000 won.
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