What is the story of Seongbuk-type Care SOS Center protecting residents from COVID-19?

Providing Rapid and Stable Services to Over 490 Vulnerable Individuals Left in the Blind Spots Due to COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Seungro Lee·photo) protected residents from COVID-19 through the Seongbuk-type Care SOS Service.

Ms. G (59, female), a person with severe disabilities living in Donam 1-dong, is also a recipient of the Care SOS Service.

In October, Ms. G and her cohabiting mother were infected with COVID-19. While Ms. G was discharged in good health, her elderly mother unfortunately passed away due to the virus.

Having relied on her mother’s help for over 50 years, Ms. G faced not only emotional shock but also difficulties in daily life. With the social distancing level raised, existing care services were suspended, creating an urgent need for assistance.

Seongbuk-gu provided emotional support and helped with health recovery by checking on her through the Care SOS Center’s meal support service. Ms. G completed her self-quarantine safely and is now living a healthy daily life with the help of the Care SOS Service.

The Seongbuk-gu Care SOS Center provides services to about 490 people, including Ms. G. Amid growing concerns about care blind spots among vulnerable groups due to COVID-19, the center plays a significant role in promptly and stably delivering services to fill care gaps.

The Seongbuk-type Care SOS, launched in August, is a service that visits residents in need of care and provides customized services.

It is available to seniors, persons with disabilities, and middle-aged adults over 50 who urgently need care and meet one or more of the following conditions: ▲difficulty moving alone or performing daily activities ▲absence of family members who can provide care or inability of family to provide care ▲not using public services or experiencing unavoidable gaps during service use.

Through the Care SOS Center, Seongbuk-gu offers four customized care services: temporary home care assisting with personal care and household activities, short-term facility admission protection, meal support to maintain basic nutrition, and information counseling services addressing care-related issues.

Seungro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, stated, “As COVID-19 prolongs, the number of vulnerable people facing care crises is increasing due to exclusion from existing public services, waiting lists, and suspension of multi-use facilities. Seongbuk-gu is making various efforts centered on the Care SOS Center to immediately respond to crisis situations in care blind spots.”

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