Mapo-gu Takes Steps to 'Strengthen' Measures to Prevent Solitary Deaths

Welfare planners visit recipients after four missed calls monthly on landline or mobile... Automatic monitoring of call history triggers dispatch if no communication records during a specific period

Visiting Vulnerable Households by Mapo-gu Welfare Planner

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) announced on the 3rd that it plans to establish a more thorough welfare system in the new year to address issues such as solitary deaths and reclusive isolation.

With the recent increase in single-person households and the progression of nuclear families, problems related to solitary deaths or reclusive isolation are on the rise. Single-person households, which are high-risk groups for solitary deaths, sometimes cut off relationships with the outside world due to stigma or pride, even when they need help.

In response, since 2016, the district has been operating the "Ddarreureung~ Happiness Line (Line) Monitor Project" to build a constant protection system that can check on these individuals while minimizing their resistance.

The "Ddarreureung~ Happiness Line (Line) Monitor" project conducts a first check on the well-being of about 4,000 vulnerable households (3,975 households as of last December) in Mapo-gu through wired and wireless phone calls on the last Wednesday of every month.

Using a voice broadcasting system, calls are sent four times in total via wired and wireless phones. If the recipient does not answer, welfare planners from each neighborhood community center visit the household directly to conduct a second check.

If any abnormalities are found regarding the individual's safety, the welfare planner devises welfare support measures tailored to them in various areas such as housing environment, medical care, and daily convenience, and assists them in receiving services.

Additionally, the district is planning a new welfare system to complement this. To fill the gap in welfare checks between the monthly "Ddarreureung~ Happiness Line (Line) Monitor" project, a "Mobile Safety Care Service" capable of real-time monitoring will be introduced.

The "Mobile Safety Care Service" automatically monitors the call history of wired and wireless phone calls made and received by the monitoring targets. If there is no communication record for a specific period (1 to 10 days), it immediately initiates procedures to check on their safety.

Through this, the district plans to prevent vulnerable individuals in crisis from worsening their situation without accessing the welfare system. The service is scheduled to be implemented starting in March.

Yudonggyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "For vulnerable groups requiring regular monitoring, consistent and proactive prevention rather than reactive measures must be the core of the project," adding, "We will focus on minimizing welfare blind spots through the Ddarreureung~ Happiness Line Monitor Project and the Mobile Safety Care Service."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.