Jongno-gu Operates 'Dolbom SOS Center' to Respond to Increasing Care Demand

Providing 'Temporary Home Care', 'Short-Term Facility', 'Meal Support', and 'Information Counseling' for Elderly, Seniors, Disabled, and Middle-Aged Residents Aged 50 and Over Who Need Care

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) will launch the 'Care SOS Center' project starting in August to provide customized services by visiting residents in need of care directly, in response to the increased demand for care during the COVID-19 era.

The target group includes elderly, seniors, disabled individuals, and middle-aged residents aged 50 and above who require care.

The selection criteria include cases where individuals have difficulty moving alone or performing independent daily activities, absence of family members who can provide care or inability of family to provide care, and those excluded from public care services.

Through the Care SOS Center, Jongno-gu aims to provide four essential care services: ▲temporary home care ▲short-term facility care ▲meal support ▲information counseling.

'Temporary home care' involves service providers such as the Social Service Agency Comprehensive Home Care Center and long-term care institutions visiting users' homes to provide direct care services.

'Short-term facility care' offers admission to long-term care institutions or short-term facilities for a certain period, while 'meal support' delivers meals such as lunch boxes and side dishes to ensure basic dietary stability. 'Information counseling' provides consultation on residents' care-related issues and supports customized information related to these concerns.

Recipients of benefits, low-income households, and residents with middle-income at or below 85% (temporarily up to 100%) can use the services free of charge up to 1.56 million KRW per person annually, while other residents can use the services at their own expense.

With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic causing delays and suspensions in existing care service systems and the cessation of free meal services by community organizations and welfare institutions, this initiative is expected to reduce care gaps and resolve blind spots in care.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “While the demand for care is increasing due to aging and changes in family structure, the caregiving function within families is weakening. Through the launch of the 'Care SOS Center,' we will strive to respond promptly to residents' care needs and create a Jongno without welfare blind spots.”

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