Gangjin-gun Omcheon-myeon 'Solitary Death Guardians' Protect Elderly Safety

Delivery of Side Dishes to Prevent Solitary Deaths

Omcheon-myeon, Gangjin-gun visited elderly households living alone, where care gaps are expected, along with guardians to prevent solitary deaths. (Photo by Gangjin-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] On the 18th, Omcheon-myeon (Mayor Song Yong-seop) in Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do, announced that on the 17th, to prevent solitary deaths, they visited elderly households living alone, where care gaps were expected, along with solitary death guardians.

With the activity range of elderly people living alone narrowing due to COVID-19, requiring more management, they visited three single elderly households, delivered side dishes, and checked on the well-being of the recipients.

Among the vulnerable elderly population, there are cases where they avoid going to hospitals due to fear of contracting COVID-19, which leads to deteriorating health and naturally reduces contact with people around them, increasing the risk of solitary death.

Song Yong-seop, Mayor of Omcheon-myeon, said, “As rural society ages, the number of elderly living alone is increasing rapidly, exposing more people to the risk of solitary death. Now, solitary death is no longer something that happens only to special people but is recognized as something that can happen to anyone regardless of gender or age, and we must actively work to prevent it.”

The Omcheon-myeon solitary death guardian group is currently linking welfare village heads familiar with local conditions and single elderly households requiring continuous care on a one-to-one basis to prevent solitary deaths. They conduct frequent welfare calls and at least one regular home visit per month.

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