Suncheon-si Creates New Care Model for a More Respected Old Age

◇ Suncheon City Transforms Welfare Paradigm with Integrated Care Services
◇ Operation of Care Safety Housing Where Housing and Care Are Provided in One Place
◇ Alleviating Patient and Caregiver Burden through Visiting Health Management Services
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[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City (Mayor Heo Seok) presented a new care model for a more respected old age on the 17th.

Suncheon is the only city in Jeonnam where the population is continuously increasing.

On the other hand, as a mixed urban-rural city, the elderly population and single-person households are increasing, and rural living areas have already become super-aged.

As a result, social costs due to family care burdens and medical expenses are increasing, making it necessary to prepare countermeasures and change social security systems.

▶ Suncheon City shifts the welfare paradigm with integrated care services.

Until now, welfare services have been fragmented support centered on providers and projects.

Also, welfare was selective, limited to certain classes based on income and assets. The issue of duplication, where beneficiaries receive benefits repeatedly, has been continuously discussed.

The city is shifting direction through a community-based integrated care pilot project toward demand-centered, non-discriminatory health care, and universal values.

Elderly people mainly wish to spend their remaining years at home rather than in hospitals, even if they have physical discomfort.

However, many social hospitalizations occur for long-term care purposes in nursing hospitals due to lack of proper caregivers and inconvenient living environments rather than treatment.

Because of the risk of accidents caused by falls or sudden health deterioration, caregivers also tend to prefer hospitalization.

After discharge, it is difficult to manage health or respond to emergencies, and inconvenient living environments such as housing are also reasons.

The city is developing and implementing care programs that assist daily and independent living even after returning home post-discharge.

It helps seniors enjoy a selective life by emotionally connecting with familiar people in their living area.

A new integrated care policy has been introduced to supplement welfare demands that were insufficient under existing systems and to combine services from various providers into an integrated care model from health and medical perspectives.

▶ Operation of Care Safety Housing where housing and care are provided in one place

Care Safety Housing is operated by the Suncheon Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, with welfare housing for the elderly supplied by the Korea Land and Housing Corporation and financial support from Suncheon City to care for seniors.

There are studio-type independent living spaces that guarantee privacy for each household, and shared spaces where residents can participate in meal, health, and leisure programs according to their wishes.

This house serves as an intermediate residence for six months after discharge, providing integrated housing, health, and nursing care services, and residents return home after the recovery period.

In particular, residents can manage their health while participating in communal activities such as meals, art therapy, and gardening, resulting in very high satisfaction emotionally.

The city plans to diversify the operation of Care Safety Housing into long-term residence, short-term residence, and communal living forms, specializing it as a Suncheon-type care housing model.

▶ Visiting health management services to reduce burdens on patients and caregivers

For patients requiring simple treatment, visiting medical services including general and oriental medicine consultations, exercise guidance, and proper medication instructions are provided.

Doctors conduct consultations and prescribe medications in one visit, and simple medical supplies are delivered directly, greatly helping both patients and caregivers.

Additionally, rural areas with a high elderly population lack sufficient medical facilities.

The city plans to focus on expanding care communities and care infrastructure in medically vulnerable areas considering hospital accessibility to promote health management services.

▶ Visiting care and nursing services to alleviate daily living inconveniences

For those returning home after discharge, housing safety convenience facilities such as traditional Korean house floor improvements, anti-slip bathroom measures, and safety handrails are provided to prevent falls among the elderly.

Also, meal support services, which are most preferred by seniors, are provided, and care activity teams accompany hospital visits and ensure safety.

Furthermore, various services such as smart care combining face-to-face and non-face-to-face methods, beauty services, transportation card support, disinfection, and cleaning are offered to help seniors live comfortably at home.

▶ Establishing a system of care together with the local community

To collectively address and solve care issues, a system of shared care is established by forming local resource and public-private consultative bodies.

Continuous communication with public and private institutions related to welfare, health, housing, hospitals, medical associations, Korea Land and Housing Corporation, National Health Insurance Service, and welfare centers will strengthen the cooperation network among welfare stakeholders in the region.

A Suncheon city official said, “We will utilize all capabilities based on local resources to complete a new care model suitable for our region and do our best to realize warm welfare without discrimination for anyone.”

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