Songpa-gu Expands Customized Care Services for People with Disabilities and Their Companions

Songpa-gu Care SOS Center Expands Support by Relaxing Eligibility from 85% to 100% of Median Income

Strengthening Emergency Care with 10 Customized Care Services from Housekeeping and Nursing to Hospital Accompaniment

Seo Gang-seok, District Mayor, "We Will Build a Detailed Welfare Safety Net to Eliminate Care Blind Spots"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced on the 12th that it will expand care services starting January 1 this year to address care gaps caused by aging and the increase of single-person households.

The district is operating a detailed welfare safety net providing everything from emergency care to daily convenience services for residents who find it difficult to receive help, gaining great public response.

# Mr. A (54), a middle-aged single-person household living in Bangi-dong with a hearing impairment and tuberculosis, was completely unable to receive donated goods, but through the center’s request, he was able to alleviate loneliness and isolation with meal support and welfare check-in services.

# Mr. B (83), a low-income elderly single-person household living in Macheon 1-dong, was bedridden due to deteriorating health and completely immobile. Upon the care manager’s recommendation, he received meal support and temporary home care services such as housekeeping and nursing, and has now recovered enough to walk with the help of a walking aid.

First, reflecting the basic philosophy of the 8th elected administration to prioritize consideration for socially vulnerable groups in administration, the district provides a total of 10 customized care services by adding ▲care system ▲case management ▲emergency support services.

Seogang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, is giving a greeting speech at the Care SOS Center Performance Sharing Meeting on December 14 last year.

The support targets middle-aged people aged 50 and over and persons with disabilities who need care. This year, the eligibility has been expanded to those under 100% of the median income, and care services are provided free of charge. Others may use the services with self-payment.

In 2022, a total of 4,868 care services such as temporary home care and meal support were provided to 1,702 people who experienced care gaps in the region.

Among them, Songpa-gu’s ‘Meal Support’ service, which was the first to introduce reusable insulated bags in the Care SOS project, provides practical help for residents’ healthy daily lives by maintaining food freshness and thorough hygiene management.

In particular, the ‘Accompaniment Support’ service, started last year, provides hospital accompaniment for elderly single-person households with mobility difficulties, easing the worries of children who feel burdened by balancing work and care. The ‘Housing Convenience’ service, which assists with simple home repairs, cleaning, disinfection, and pest control, plays a significant role in improving residents’ quality of life.

Additionally, through a ‘Discharge Patient Care SOS Center Linkage Agreement’ with the Police Hospital and two other hospitals, systematic care plans and customized services necessary for recovery after discharge are provided to welfare recipients, receiving great public response.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, emphasized, “The Care SOS Center plays a pivotal role in caring for households in care crises,” and added, “We will continue to carefully observe residents’ difficulties and devote all efforts to creating a happy Songpa-gu with no care gaps 365 days a year.”

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