First in the Nation: Health Check-up Support for Seniors
Yeongyang County Leads with Early Screening and Personalized Care
Yeongyang County in North Gyeongsang Province is a super-aged society, with seniors (aged 65 and older) accounting for 41% of the total population. In response to the gradual increase in demand for medical care and long-term care, the county has implemented a health check-up support project ahead of other regions facing similar circumstances.
Yeongyang County Public Health Center conducting free mobile tuberculosis screening for the elderly. Provided by Yeongyang County
According to a government announcement, South Korea has now entered a super-aged society, with residents aged 65 and older making up 20% of the total registered population.
The proportion of elderly people has been steadily rising, with the percentage of those aged 65 and older doubling from 10% in 2008 to 20% in 2024, raising concerns about the rapid pace of aging.
As the era of living to 100 begins in earnest, Yeongyang County has continuously considered how to view its senior citizens and has been preparing measures to support residents starting the second chapter of their lives after retirement.
To this end, the county became the first in the nation to provide health check-up support for residents aged 50 and older, allowing for the early detection of various diseases through regular health screenings, identifying risk factors, and providing opportunities to take preventive measures.
Additionally, the county operates programs that enable residents to set up personalized health management plans regarding diet, exercise, and stress management through consultations with specialists, helping them lead healthy lives.
The health check-up support project for residents aged 50 and older, which Yeongyang County launched in 2023 as the first in the country, supported 1,429 people in 2023 and 1,312 people in 2024, providing 300,000 won per eligible recipient and receiving a very positive response.
In the era of living to 100, the lives of seniors are no longer filled with idle time as in the past. They now consider their own employment and leisure activities and have not lost their independent status within the community.
In line with this trend, Yeongyang County has developed senior welfare policies for later-life planning, offering a wide range of options such as free spaces, diverse leisure activities, and daily exercise. Currently, there are 183 senior community centers in the county, which provide support for heating and cooling costs, rice, and side dish expenses, creating spaces where seniors can gather comfortably. The county also expands participation opportunities through various hobby programs such as yoga, singing, and dance classes.
Selected for the "2024 Smart Village Distribution and Expansion Project," the smart senior centers have established infrastructure that allows seniors to naturally become familiar with smart devices in these spaces, helping to bridge the digital divide and create an environment where communication with the younger generation is seamless.
Yeongyang County generously supports senior welfare facilities and organizations, but aims to strengthen autonomy and responsibility, such as by expanding senior employment, to foster a self-sustaining senior ecosystem.
County Governor Oh Dochang stated, "The future of Yeongyang County lies in the strength of its welfare," and added, "I hope that those who spent their past in Yeongyang County will enjoy happier days in the future, and we will expand practical and helpful senior welfare policies."
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