Dongjak-gu Promotes Measures to Prevent Solitary Deaths Among Single-Person Households

By the end of the year, Guman's specialized social safety net will promote measures to prevent solitary deaths among single-person households... Focused identification and support for over 6,500 middle-aged and older single-person households in care crisis, actively responding to COVID-19... This year, Guman's specialized projects include the first operation of Care SOS Center and free psychological counseling programs.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Chang-woo Lee) is implementing measures to prevent solitary deaths among single-person households as a specialized social safety net in the district until December.

Last year, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, enacted an ordinance on the prevention of solitary deaths and support for socially isolated households to prevent solitary deaths among marginalized and disconnected single-person households and to enable systematic management.

First, the district will conduct an accurate survey to identify and support single-person households.

From August to November, a survey will be conducted targeting middle-aged individuals aged 50 to under 64 living alone, and long-term monthly rent defaulters among single-person households residing in goshiwons, motels, and multi-family housing (rental apartments).

After collecting basic data on the subjects through community leaders and local care groups, welfare planners, neighborhood officers, and visiting nurses will conduct in-depth consultations by phone or mail for households needing support.

After the first and second surveys, households judged to be at risk of solitary death will receive tailored services according to risk group, including ▲meal delivery ▲care services by care workers ▲health consultations linked with local medical institutions.

In particular, to minimize care gaps for vulnerable groups due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, from now until September 30, the district will focus on identifying and supporting care crisis households among approximately 6,500 middle-aged single-person households receiving Seoul's emergency disaster living expenses.

Additionally, to strengthen the social safety net, the district will launch specialized projects this year for the first time, including the ‘Care SOS Center’ and a ‘Free Psychological Counseling’ program.

The Care SOS Center provides services to residents in need of care through social enterprises, local self-support centers, and public and private medical institutions, including ▲essential outing support ▲residential facility repairs, cleaning, and disinfection ▲meal delivery and medical management ▲welfare checks and counseling on care issues.

Considering the district’s characteristics with a concentration of academies and goshiwons, a customized free psychological counseling service for youth and middle-aged adults will be provided at the Bondong Comprehensive Social Welfare Center until December.

Through professional psychological counselors, three sessions of counseling addressing fatigue, anxiety, and stress will be conducted, followed by in-depth analysis through screening and customized psychological treatment for each individual.

Furthermore, in four neighborhoods?Noryangjin 1-dong, Sangdo 1-dong, Sadang 1-dong, and Sindaebang 2-dong?community network formation projects tailored to local characteristics will be promoted in cooperation with Bondong, Sangdo, Sadang, and Dongjak Comprehensive Social Welfare Centers.

‘Neighbor Caregivers,’ composed of about 10 local residents interested in preventing solitary deaths such as community leaders and local social security committee members, and ‘Neighbor Keepers,’ selected from convenience stores, hospitals, pharmacies, and other sectors where isolated households are easily identified, will actively discover high-risk groups for solitary death.

In addition, the district is also promoting the ‘Safety and Health Management Solution Project for Elderly Living Alone,’ installing IoT devices in the homes of 132 elderly living alone to monitor their safety and health in real time.

Yoo Won-sik, Director of Welfare Policy, said, “We will actively respond to the COVID-19 crisis with a strengthened social safety net and strive to prevent solitary deaths among single-person households,” adding, “We will minimize welfare blind spots to create a welfare city where all residents can be happy.”

Since the 13th of this month until the end of the month, the district has been directly delivering cool kits (summer bedding sets) to 300 elderly single-person households receiving basic livelihood security and lower-income support through resident participation budgeting and checking on their well-being.

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