Jangseong-gun, Full Efforts to Protect Vulnerable Elderly Against Heatwave

Published 26 Jul.2021 15:30(KST)

[Jangseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jo Hangyu] Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Yoo Doo-seok) announced on the 26th that it is implementing strengthened protection measures for elderly residents vulnerable to heatwaves in the region.

Currently, the population of seniors aged 65 and over in the county is about 13,500, accounting for approximately 30% of the total residents.

The county has designated a total of 2,891 elderly care recipients as summer protection targets, including ▲ customized elderly care service recipients ▲ home welfare service recipients ▲ facility residents ▲ and other senior guardians, and is managing them separately.

In particular, 1,266 elderly residents who are either admitted to facilities or not receiving home welfare services and thus fall into a blind spot of management have been included in the intensive management targets.

The county checks their health and tracks their movements at least once a day through telephone confirmation or direct visits by life support workers, and has conducted regional education for elderly care personnel to improve their ability to respond to sudden situations during the heatwave.

When heatwave alerts (advisories, warnings) are issued, the heatwave information delivery system has also been reorganized so that local life support workers and senior guardian group members can promptly carry out elderly care management.

Additionally, local senior centers have been designated as cooling shelters so that residents can use them while complying with quarantine rules.

Governor Yoo Doo-seok said, “As the heatwave is expected to continue until early next month, we will strengthen the management of elderly residents vulnerable to the heat and provide thorough support so that they can live healthy lives.”