Gwanak-gu 'Dolbom SOS Center' Fills COVID-19 Care Blind Spots with Effective Epidemiological Support

Provided 587 care services including temporary care, meal provision, and information counseling over 2 months... Established Dong-level Care SOS Centers and signed MOUs with 38 service providers

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “I live alone, and suddenly became a COVID-19 self-quarantine case with no one around to help me. Then, I was connected to Gwanak-gu's 'Care SOS Center,' where a care manager thoroughly checked my current condition. Now, with meal support linked, I am living without worries.”

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) Care SOS Center is playing a vital role in filling the gaps in care blind spots arising amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

It has resolved difficulties faced by those in crisis situations such as family caregivers of disabled persons suddenly hospitalized, individuals who have difficulty moving alone and living independently, and elderly living alone who suffer from lack of meal support from welfare institutions due to COVID-19.

Since its operation began in August, the Gwanak-gu Care SOS Center has provided customized services to residents in urgent need of care to respond to temporary crisis situations.

Over two months, it quickly connected a total of 587 customized care services including temporary home care (housekeeping and nursing), meal support, and information counseling services.

In particular, among the 20 autonomous districts in Seoul that started operating Care SOS Centers from August, Gwanak-gu ranked first with 226 cases in the first month, far exceeding the district average of 83 cases.

The district deployed three care managers at the neighborhood level, including welfare officials, nurses, and contract workers, establishing a rapid and efficient work system from discovering subjects to closure through field visits, care planning, service provision, and cooperation with public and private resources.

Care managers respond to urgent and temporary care needs that are institutionally neglected, establish customized plans tailored to each resident’s care needs, connect them to pre-agreed care service providers, and conduct follow-up management.

Additionally, through business agreements with 38 institutions that directly provide actual care services, such as long-term elderly care centers and social enterprises, the center jointly addresses care issues.

Especially, the district produced 12,000 promotional materials on its own to ensure that residents in social disasters like COVID-19 and those in blind spots of existing policies can receive maximum benefits, focusing on project promotion.

Currently, it provides four major customized care services: temporary home care, short-term facility use, meal provision, and information counseling, with plans to expand daily convenience services such as accompaniment visits, housing convenience, health support, and welfare checks by 2021.

Elderly, disabled, and middle-aged residents (50 years and older) in need of care can apply for care services through their neighborhood community service center or the district Care SOS Center, and service costs are fully covered for residents with income levels at or below 100% of the median income.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Care is no longer a burden that individuals must bear alone but a social issue that society must share. Through the Gwanak-gu Care SOS Center, we will build a more thorough and proactive care safety net and do our best to realize a happier Gwanak welfare together.”

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