Why Did Jongno-gu Provide Companion Animals and Plants to Elderly Living Alone?

Purpose of Expanding Safety Nets to Prevent Solitary Deaths Among Vulnerable Groups and Socially Isolated Households... Approximately 1,000 Households at Risk of Solitary Death in the Area, Prioritizing Elderly Living Alone Selected

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) will implement the companion plants and animals support project "Shall We Live Together?" from August to December this year to expand the safety net for preventing solitary deaths among vulnerable groups and socially isolated households.

This initiative aims to prevent solitary deaths, which have emerged as a social issue due to aging population and the increase of single-person households, at the community level.

In Jongno-gu, where the elderly population ratio is high and many vulnerable single-person households live in small rooms or goshiwon (cheap dormitories), a full survey is conducted every year to identify households at risk of solitary death and welfare blind spots.

Households at risk of solitary death have few contacts with family or outsiders and do not engage in social activities, so continuous visits and welfare checks are necessary to provide emotional stability.

However, due to refusal by the individuals themselves and other difficulties in resolving the issues, support has mainly focused on immediate needs such as food and living expenses when identifying at-risk households.

Jongno-gu judged that such support alone is insufficient to solve the fundamental problems and decided to provide companion plants and animals to offer emotional stability to vulnerable groups through a new project.

The target is about 1,000 households at risk of solitary death, prioritizing elderly living alone. The Welfare Support Division will act as the control tower overseeing the project, while each community service center will be responsible for identifying at-risk households. The community centers will also conduct home visits and welfare calls in cooperation with the local community security council.

For companion plants, considering the living environment of vulnerable groups, species that grow well indoors even with limited sunlight and ventilation and have excellent air purification abilities such as Spathiphyllum, Aglaonema (Jageumwoo, also known as Cheonnyeonggeum), and Aloe have been selected. The pots will be made of lightweight, unbreakable, and safe materials to enhance satisfaction.

Planting the pots will involve trainees from Woori Agreen, a vocational training program for horticultural jobs for people with developmental disabilities. This will provide an opportunity for people with developmental disabilities to participate in community problem-solving rather than just being recipients of aid.

Considering the housing conditions and economic burden of vulnerable groups, companion animals will be supported in the form of fish. Beautifully shaped and colored, easy-to-raise, and highly reproductive species such as Guppy and Zebrafish will be selected and delivered with mini aquariums.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong said, "We have launched the companion plants and animals support project to help low-income and welfare blind spot residents struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and economic poverty," adding, "We will strengthen the human safety net by enhancing resident networks through cooperation with local councils to prevent solitary deaths."

Jongno-gu has consistently worked to prevent solitary deaths and identify welfare blind spots. In 2017, it conducted a full survey of middle-aged single men with neighborhood officials, welfare block leaders, and welfare planners; in 2018, a full survey of housing-vulnerable groups was carried out, providing public support, linking private resources, and offering appropriate welfare information.

Last year, a full survey of middle-aged single-person households was conducted, providing welfare counseling, resource linkage, and continuous follow-up management to residents facing difficulties such as economic poverty or unemployment.

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