Senior Welfare Housing, Integrated Care Pilot Project, and Dementia-Safe Apartment Achievements
Local Governments Nationwide Benchmark Cheongyang's Model
At the center of Cheongyang County's transformation of the super-aged society's care crisis into an opportunity is Governor Kim Donggon. With more than 40% of its population aged 65 or older, the county is referred to as a "laboratory for an aging society."
Governor Kim was the first to directly confront the issue and presented a vision of "Aging in Place," creating a new model that integrates housing, healthcare, and welfare into reality.
The Cheongyang Gyowol Senior Welfare Housing, completed in July 2023 under Governor Kim's initiative, is the first tangible result of care innovation on a national scale. The complex, which consists of 127 units and was built with a total investment of 27.5 billion KRW, is equipped with communal dining facilities, a rehabilitation exercise room, and a day care center, allowing seniors to live, exercise, and dine together as a community rather than in isolation.
In October of the same year, the opening of a social welfare center established an integrated system that encompasses both housing and welfare, which quickly led to nationwide recognition.
In 2024, the county received the Grand Prize in the Korea Healthy Age-Friendly City Policy Awards and the top prize in the Livable Apartment Competition, and this year it was designated as a dementia-safe apartment complex.
Since 2024, Cheongyang County has been selected for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's pilot project for integrated medical and care support, providing 38 customized services-including telemedicine, meal delivery, and housing safety improvements-to 584 individuals such as hospital discharge patients and long-term care recipients, earning recognition as a "national care model."
Residents are also feeling the changes. Comments such as "It's much more convenient to receive dementia care at home" and "Exercising with neighbors is the highlight of my day" demonstrate that Governor Kim's policies are improving the quality of life for the community. This is also why local governments from across the country are visiting to benchmark Cheongyang's model.
Governor Kim stated, "Cheongyang County is a national standard model for providing care solutions in a super-aged society," and added, "We will do our best to create an environment where seniors can live with dignity."
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