Seoul City Supports 'Sick Single-Person Households' from Discharge to Daily Recovery... 5,000 KRW per Hour 'Daily Recovery Companion Service'

Care managers provide essential daily living support such as cleaning, laundry, washing, and meals for discharged single-person households
Apply through call center 24 hours before discharge... Use up to 60 hours at 5,000 KRW per hour

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 24th that it will launch the 'Post-Discharge Daily Recovery Companion Service for Single-Person Households,' which provides care for single-person households who have been hospitalized for surgery or fractures and discharged but face difficulties due to the lack of a caregiver.

A care manager visits the single-person household to provide meticulous support for daily activities such as laundry, cleaning, and meals, as well as small but potentially significant inconveniences for patients like changing clothes and washing up, and even routine tasks such as visiting government offices. Support is available for up to 60 hours at an affordable cost of 5,000 KRW per hour.

Following the launch of the 'Single-Person Household Hospital Safe Companion Service' last November, which supports hospital accompaniment and admission/discharge, Seoul City is now adding the post-discharge daily recovery companion service to establish a seamless care support system for single-person households suffering from illness.

While existing private and public care services have focused on long-term care for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals, the post-discharge daily recovery companion service is available to any single-person household in need of care after discharge, regardless of age or income.

The target beneficiaries are single-person households requiring temporary care after discharge. The city will pilot the program from September 1 through the end of the year for citizens who have used the 'Single-Person Household Hospital Safe Companion Service.' Single-person households wishing to use the service can apply to the 'Single-Person Household Hospital Safe Companion Service' call center 24 hours before discharge (within 30 days after discharge).

Based on the hospital diagnosis, after consultation with a professional counseling manager, if approved as a beneficiary, a care manager will visit the single-person household within 12 hours to provide necessary services including daily living activities (cleaning, laundry, meals), physical activities (washing up, changing clothes, indoor mobility, medication), and personal activities (outing, handling daily tasks).

During the pilot period, applications can be made once a year for up to 15 days (maximum 60 hours). Services can be requested for desired hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, with weekend use available upon consultation. The usage fee is 5,000 KRW per hour. To lower the barrier for use, the fee is set at one-quarter of the typical home care service cost (long-term care visiting nursing benefits), making it affordable for everyone.

Meanwhile, Seoul City plans to expand the project in the future after analyzing service demand and outcomes through this year’s pilot operation. Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Women and Family Policy Office, stated, “The daily recovery companion service addresses the practical inconveniences faced by discharged single-person households and supports their early return to a healthy daily life. We will continue to proactively provide public services that single-person households can feel, ensuring they can live alone without discomfort, anxiety, or dissatisfaction.”

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