Cheonan Launches 'Happiness Care Team' to Identify Groups at Risk of Solitary Death

62 Members Including Honorary Social Welfare Officials Formed

Cheonan City in Chungnam has formed the Happiness Care Group, consisting of 62 members including honorary social welfare officers, and has begun full-scale operations.

Cheonan City in Chungnam Province has formed a "Happiness Care Team" to intensively monitor individuals at risk of solitary death and has officially launched its activities.

The Happiness Care Team, consisting of 62 members including honorary social welfare officials, is matched one-on-one with socially isolated individuals and checks in on those at risk of solitary death at least once a week.

They visit households at risk, deliver beverages and daily necessities, monitor their daily lives, and report any signs of crisis to the local administrative welfare centers to respond to emergency situations.

The city plans to designate periods with high isolation risk, such as heatwaves and cold waves, as special solitary death prevention periods for intensive management, and will regularly provide training to strengthen the capabilities of the Happiness Care Team, including methods for identifying and reporting households in crisis.

A city official stated, "We expect the Happiness Care Team to help build social networks for at-risk groups, such as single middle-aged men who do not seek help even when facing lack of care or difficulties in daily life, and to make a significant contribution to preventing solitary deaths and addressing social isolation."