Seocho-gu Partners with Local Chambers of Commerce for Tailored Care of Elderly Living Alone: A Story That Earned Applause?

Chamber of Commerce and Economic Council Continue Over 6 Years of Home Repairs and Welfare Checks for Elderly Living Alone; Provide Cool Drinks in Insulated Bags During Hot Summers... AI Care Robots and IoT Used to Support Elderly Living Alone in Care Blind Spots

Delivery of Supplies for Heatwave Preparedness

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seocho-gu is actively implementing care services for vulnerable elderly living alone who are in blind spots of care, in collaboration with the local community such as the Seocho-gu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Seocho Business Association, amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the increase of elderly single-person households requiring more community attention and care.

Since 2014, through sponsorship from the Seocho-gu Chamber of Commerce, the Yakult delivery personnel have been providing health drinks and checking on the safety of vulnerable elderly living alone through the "Seoripul Yakult Care Project," consistently confirming the well-being of a total of 1,462 elderly living alone to date.

Additionally, the "Handyman Dispatch Service," which assists with small home repairs such as clogged drains and broken toilets for elderly living alone in vulnerable housing, has been supported by the Seocho Business Association since 2016. It is linked with 12 hardware stores in the area, providing support to 1,216 households so far.

In particular, anticipating hot weather this summer, the district plans to produce its own Yakult cooling bags and deliver cool Yakult three times a week to 184 elderly living alone in the area. While checking on the health and well-being of the elderly, this aims to alleviate the loneliness caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, through a prior demand survey, in May, 75 life support workers visited 1,109 elderly individuals in need of care, delivering customized heatwave preparedness items such as health foods, summer masks, electronic mosquito swatters, eco water bottles, and sun caps to each household, while providing guidance on heatwave response methods.

Meanwhile, the district has been promoting various specialized projects to prevent solitary deaths and ensure safe aging for elderly living alone, including AI care robots capable of conversation and real-time safety checks, IoT-based safety confirmation, and automatic safety call services utilizing communication technology.

Jo Eun-hee, Mayor of Seocho-gu, stated, “We will continue to join hands with the local community to provide customized care services without blind spots to vulnerable elderly living alone in the area, carefully managing their safety and health.”

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