Haenam-gun Village Senior Centers, More Comfortable and Lively

Starting This Year, Support for Senior Center Meal Expenses and Development as Village Life Hub Spaces

Haenam-gun Village Senior Centers Become More Comfortable and Lively. (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 13th that from this year, food expenses and water purifier rental fees will be supported at senior centers within the county.

The county is investing a budget of 1.16 billion KRW this year to support food expenses at 573 senior centers excluding township branches, and also supports a monthly water purifier rental fee of 20,000 KRW at all 588 senior centers to improve the living environment of the centers.

As village senior centers are effectively operated as the central space of village life, support projects are being actively expanded to ensure a vibrant old age and to revitalize the senior centers.

Last year, with a project budget of 838 million KRW, five village senior centers were newly built, renovation and function reinforcement projects were carried out, air conditioners were installed in 58 senior centers that either did not have them or had broken units, and outdated electronic devices such as air purifiers, refrigerators, and televisions are being replaced sequentially.

So far, massage chairs have been provided to 359 senior centers, and an additional 30 will be installed in the first half of this year, with plans to support air conditioners and massage chairs in all senior centers.

In addition, to prepare for injuries while using the senior centers, the county is investing 130 million KRW to collectively enroll all seniors using the senior centers in 14 towns and townships in liability insurance, and is supporting emergency response by placing first aid kits in the centers.

To prevent infectious diseases from insects such as mosquitoes and flies, disinfection is conducted twice a year at all senior centers.

To expand hobbies and leisure culture for the elderly, professional instructors are dispatched to 60 senior centers including township branches to operate health management, singing classes, and hobby classes, while also thoroughly supporting lively senior activities such as operating five senior universities and gateball tournaments.

The population of seniors aged 65 and over in Haenam-gun is 21,957, accounting for 32.1% of the total population of the county, and a budget of 85.4 billion KRW, which is 11.6% of the entire county budget and 59.8% of the welfare budget, is allocated to the field of elderly welfare.

County Governor Myeong Hyeon-gwan said, “As senior centers have established themselves as leisure and cultural spaces in the villages, we are making efforts through active support to ensure that the elderly can use them more safely and comfortably,” and added, “This year as well, we will carefully promote projects to expand operational support so that seniors can enjoy a healthy leisure life.”

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