Seocho-gu Checks on Isolated Neighbors Including Elderly Living Alone and Homeless During Lunar New Year Holiday

Support for 1,912 Elderly Living Alone with Meals and Daily Necessities Before the Holiday... Delivered Five-Colored Garaetteok to 1,085 Vulnerable Elderly for Health and Longevity, Checking on Their Well-being... Provided Winter Supplies, Holiday Snacks, Masks to Homeless Before Lunar New Year, Offered Free Meals, Information, and Strengthened Emergency Contact System

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seocho-gu delivers the warmth of neighborly love through customized welfare services for marginalized neighbors such as the elderly and homeless during the Lunar New Year holiday.

As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for families to visit, increasing the number of elderly people in need of care, the district expanded the number of recipients by nearly 80% compared to last year, supporting 1,912 elderly living alone with meals and briquettes to help them enjoy a warm holiday. They also prepared detailed Lunar New Year support measures such as non-face-to-face check-ins using smart devices and emergency repairs for daily inconveniences.

In addition, for homeless people left in the blind spots of COVID-19, special patrol teams are formed around the Express Bus Terminal area and Gyodae Station to carry out protection and support activities for the homeless.

First, the district provides meal support such as rice cake soup, organic soy sauce sets, and substitute meals to 1,912 elderly living alone, along with delivering briquettes and winter supplies to those in vulnerable housing conditions.

Especially this year, 1,085 vulnerable elderly in need of care were selected, and five-colored Garaetteok rice cakes wishing for health and longevity amid COVID-19 were prepared. Care workers deliver these while observing quarantine rules, adding warm affection.

They also prepared detailed Lunar New Year support measures including non-face-to-face check-ins using smart devices and emergency repairs for daily inconveniences. During the holiday period, to prevent solitary death and depression, safety text messages are sent to 4,610 elderly living alone, daily check-ins by care workers, automatic safety calls, and IoT care services are used to provide thorough check-in services according to the situation.

For homeless people spending the holiday alone in the cold streets during the Lunar New Year holiday, winter supplies such as gloves, socks, and hot packs, as well as traditional Korean sweets and rice cakes, are provided in holiday packages.

Additionally, quarantine supplies such as masks and hand sanitizers are delivered, and active guidance is provided so that they can also receive COVID-19 tests at the Express Bus Terminal screening clinic, supporting the prevention of COVID-19 spread and enabling a warm Lunar New Year holiday.

The district organizes two special patrol teams from February 8 to 13 to patrol daily in homeless occurrence areas such as around the Express Bus Terminal. They establish a close cooperation system with related organizations such as the police station and plan to encourage homeless people to enter facilities and guide temporary housing support.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, information about free meal centers providing lunch and dinner daily for the homeless and hospitals capable of emergency treatment will also be distributed, focusing on protecting the homeless during the holiday period.

Seocho-gu has been conducting various projects to prevent solitary death and relieve depression among vulnerable elderly living alone. Last year, among 161 local governments nationwide, the Seocho Happiness e-um Center, the elderly customized care service agency of Seocho-gu, was selected as the best institution in the solitary death prevention specialized project category and received the Minister of Health and Welfare Award, the only one in Seoul.

A district official said, “We will do our best to ensure that marginalized neighbors, including elderly living alone and homeless people who are having a harder time due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and cold wave, can feel a warm holiday and spend the Lunar New Year holiday safely and comfortably through diverse and detailed support.”

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