Yangcheon-gu Dolbom SOS Center Expanded to All 18 Dong Community Service Centers

Installation of Care SOS Centers and Assignment of Dedicated Staff (Care Managers) Completed in Each Neighborhood... Expansion from 6 Major Care Services to 8 Major Care Services (Including Well-being Checks and Health Support)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) has expanded the installation of the ‘Care SOS Center’ to all 18 neighborhood community service centers to address temporary care gaps.

Additional dedicated personnel, called care managers, have been assigned, and the existing six care services (temporary home care, short-term facilities, accompaniment support, residential convenience, meal support, information counseling) have been expanded to include safety checks and health support services, providing a total of eight types of care services.

Starting with a pilot project centered in Yangcheon-gu in August last year, from January this year, Care SOS Centers have been established in each neighborhood community service center, with a total of 36 care managers (one welfare officer and one nursing officer per neighborhood) deployed, shifting to a neighborhood-centered operation.

The Care SOS Center is a public service that provides customized care services tailored to the care needs of residents who urgently require care due to sudden illness, accidents, or absence of caregivers.

If the eligible person applies to the care manager at their neighborhood community service center, the care manager conducts an on-site assessment of the applicant household to directly identify difficulties and establish a customized care plan.

Afterwards, services are requested from contracted providers, allowing for prompt service delivery.

Eligibility includes anyone aged 65 or older, persons with disabilities, or middle-aged adults aged 50 or older regardless of income, but since this service responds to sudden temporary crisis situations, applicants must meet the following conditions: ▲difficulty performing independent daily living, ▲absence or lack of family caregivers, and ▲not using other public support programs.

Service fees are fully covered for basic livelihood security recipients, lower-income groups, and those with income below 85% of the median income (1-person household income standard of 1,493,000 KRW). Other residents must bear the full cost themselves. The annual usage limit per person is 1,580,000 KRW.

The Care SOS Center service continues to operate without interruption even during the COVID-19 situation. In urgent care needs, residents can call or visit the care manager at their neighborhood community service center for consultation.

The district plans to stabilize the care service process through an information management system by conducting job training and meetings for dedicated Care SOS Center personnel and service providers to ensure smooth care service delivery.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, stated, “Through the installation of Care SOS Centers in each neighborhood and the expansion to eight care services, we will actively identify those who need temporary and urgent care and strive to minimize care gaps.”

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