Incheon City has prepared and is promoting an implementation plan to early identify individuals at risk of solitary death and provide support such as counseling, treatment, care, and employment.
This plan consists of 12 unit tasks and 45 detailed projects centered on four major strategies: discovering and managing high-risk groups for solitary death, strengthening social networks, providing various services according to life cycles, and establishing a prevention system.
The city will secure four dedicated personnel for solitary death prevention to enhance work expertise and operate social network formation programs that encourage at-risk individuals to participate in external activities such as gatherings and cultural life to prevent isolation caused by the increase of single-person households.
A health drink delivery manager is visiting a single-person household to deliver drinks and check on their well-being. Provided by Yeonsu-gu, Incheon.
In particular, customized care, home health management, and employment support will be provided to elderly individuals at risk of solitary death, while middle-aged adults will receive employment support, lifelong education, and daily care services. An integrated support system will also be established for high-risk youth groups facing solitary death.
According to a survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of solitary death fatalities in Incheon has continuously decreased, with 248 in 2021, 215 in 2022, and 208 in 2023. The city analyzed this as an effect of the solitary death prevention policies and various support projects implemented since 2022.
An official from Incheon City stated, "Solitary death is not an individual's problem but a challenge that the entire society must solve," and added, "We will continue to expand early detection of high-risk groups and provide customized support."
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