Nowon-gu Senior Centers and Dong Community Centers Operate 'Elderly Cold Wave Shelters'

Operation of 74 Senior Centers and 19 Dong Community Centers as 'Cold Wave Shelters' Until March 15 Next Year... 'Night Cold Wave Shelters' Set Up in 30 Hotel Rooms to Provide Warm Sleeping Places for Seniors

Last Year's Heating Tents for Elderly Living Alone

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) will operate the ‘Senior Cold Wave Shelter’ until March 15 next year to prepare for the winter cold wave.

The cold wave shelters are available to any vulnerable residents, including elderly people living alone, focusing on general residential areas with poor heating facilities. A total of 93 locations will be operated, including 74 senior centers and 19 community service centers.

The operating hours of the shelters are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays at the community service centers, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the senior centers. However, the senior centers are currently closed due to COVID-19 and will reopen when operations resume.

Additionally, during cold wave warnings, a ‘Night Cold Wave Shelter’ will operate from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day. Nowon-gu has partnered with Noblesse Hotel to operate 30 rooms as safe accommodations, providing warm and comfortable lodging for the elderly.

The night shelter is available to elderly people and those living alone who have been recommended by the head of their respective community service center. Applications can be submitted at the local community service center. The night cold wave shelter will operate from December 15 to February 28.

To prevent COVID-19, the district will limit the number of shelter occupants according to social distancing levels and strengthen quarantine measures. They will strictly follow quarantine rules such as mask-wearing, temperature checks, and maintaining user logs.

Furthermore, the district will enhance welfare checks for elderly people vulnerable to the cold wave. Under normal conditions, welfare calls are made twice a week, and during cold wave warnings, calls will be made every other day. Home visits to elderly people living alone will also increase from once a week to every other day during warnings to ensure their safety.

In addition, 941 electric mats and 182 heating tents will be provided to 1,002 low-income vulnerable groups, including recipients of basic pensions and elderly people living alone.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “I hope the elderly can spend a safe and healthy winter at the cold wave shelters,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to protect vulnerable residents from disasters such as heatwaves and cold waves.”

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