Kim Mikyung, Eunpyeong District Mayor, Warms Hearts with Home Visits to Elderly Living Alone

"Care SOS Project Greatly Helps Daily Life When Feeling Sick"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) visited the homes of elderly people living alone in the area on the 23rd to extend holiday greetings and practice neighborly love for the underprivileged.

The elderly person visited by the mayor, Mr. Kim, resides in Bulgwang 1-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, and lives as a basic livelihood security recipient, receiving living and housing benefits.

After being hospitalized for a month due to a fall in September last year, the elderly person experienced discomfort in the knees and back, making meal preparation difficult. Accordingly, upon request from the welfare planner in charge, a care manager visited and identified the need for meal services, providing the elderly person with lunch boxes.

The elderly person said brightly to Mayor Kim Mi-kyung, "When I was sick, I worried about every meal, but since receiving the lunch box support, I no longer worry," adding, "I hope many people can benefit from this."

The district has been operating the Eunpyeong-type Care SOS Center at the community service centers since July 2019.

In 2019, the main beneficiaries were elderly and disabled people, but from this year, middle-aged households aged 50 and over are also included as support targets, and the service cost support has been expanded to citizens with a median income of 85% or less.

Additionally, care services include temporary home care supporting housekeeping and nursing, short-term facilities, mobility support, meal support, welfare checks, health support, and information counseling services, all provided in a customized manner according to the recipient's situation.

In 2019, the number of care service uses was 1,851 cases, including 218 cases of temporary home care and 457 cases of meal support, with Eunpyeong-gu showing particularly high demand for meal support services.

In 2020, Eunpyeong-gu plans to actively support eight care services, including meal support and temporary home care, to extend welfare assistance to vulnerable groups in care blind spots.

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung stated, "Due to changes in the population structure, care should be the responsibility of the community, not individuals," adding, "I hope people will pay more attention to marginalized neighbors during the holidays and that a social atmosphere will be fostered where we always stand with those in need, not just during holidays."

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