Seoul City to Resume Operation of Social Welfare Facilities from the 18th... Minimizing Care Gaps

Facilities for Disabled Persons Operate on Alternate Days and Weekly Schedules
Senior Centers Closed for Now to Reopen with Limited Access After Preemptive Disinfection Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City will expand the operation of social welfare facilities starting from the 18th in accordance with the adjustment to social distancing level 2, minimizing the care gap in the local community.

According to Seoul City on the 17th, 232 comprehensive, elderly, and disabled welfare centers that were either closed or providing emergency care and one-on-one services, as well as 3,472 senior citizen centers, will resume operations after thorough disinfection and preparation of quarantine supplies. Additionally, 296 facilities for the disabled, including day care centers and vocational rehabilitation facilities, will increase their usage capacity from below 30% to below 50%.

Comprehensive social welfare centers, elderly welfare centers, and disabled welfare centers will expand mainly non-active and non-contact programs with 5 to 10 people or fewer to minimize risk during facility use, and will operate on a reservation basis.

Furthermore, online services will be actively provided for seniors and disabled individuals who find it difficult to use welfare centers, along with emotional support programs for vulnerable groups in the community who have been psychologically strained due to prolonged social distancing.

Senior citizen centers will conduct prior education and inspections for facility managers and plan to reopen from the 22nd. Upon reopening, usage hours will be limited from 1 PM to 5 PM, and individual usage time will be restricted to within one hour. Day care facilities for the disabled (130 locations), vocational rehabilitation facilities (138 locations), and lifelong education centers for people with developmental disabilities (21 locations) will expand operations from below 30% to below 50% capacity, diversifying operation methods such as alternating day or weekday schedules or adjusting usage hours according to each facility’s conditions.

Disabled sports facilities (7 locations) will enforce social distancing of one person per 6 square meters of exercise space and operate small-scale rehabilitation sports with fewer than 10 participants, as well as child development and special physical education programs. However, swimming programs will be limited to 50% of the usage capacity. Additionally, non-contact visits and outings for treatment will be allowed at residential facilities such as nursing and elderly care facilities (229 locations) and residential facilities for the disabled (47 locations), which have been operating with restricted external access.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of Welfare Policy at Seoul City, explained, “Although there have been inconveniences for community users due to the closure and reduced operation of welfare facilities, this reopening will somewhat alleviate the welfare service gap for seniors and disabled individuals.”

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