Seongdong-gu Expands Fall Prevention Program for Seniors

Fall Prevention Safe Care Project Expands Support to About 1,000 Low-Income Elderly Households and 70 Senior Centers... 66.7% of Elderly Fall Accidents Occur at Home, Providing Customized Fall Prevention Packages Worth Up to 560,000 KRW

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeong Wono) is expanding the “Fall Prevention Safe Care Project” for the Korean version of “Aging in Place” in the community, following the re-certification as an Age-Friendly City by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the 2022 Seoul Elderly Survey, 66.7% of fall accidents occurred inside homes, such as in bathrooms or restrooms. In response, Seongdong-gu has developed a customized package that supports not only fall prevention for the elderly but also their health and vitality. The goal is to prevent severe complications from falls, reduce medical expenses, and create a safe living environment. Each household can receive up to 560,000 KRW worth of fall prevention safety products, including silver carts, safety bars, and remote controls for lights, with a total of 29 types of items available. Target households can directly select the items they wish to receive.

The district will prioritize support for approximately 1,000 households of elderly people aged 65 or older who are basic livelihood security recipients or belong to the lower-income bracket and require care, all of whom are part of the Elderly Customized Care Service. Including support for 100 elderly households in September, 540 households will be supported by the end of this year, with sequential support continuing through the first half of next year. From 2025, an additional 500 elderly households will be supported annually.

Additionally, fall prevention supplies will be expanded to 70 senior centers frequently used by the elderly. To ensure smooth implementation, Seongdong-gu signed a business agreement at the end of October with the Seongdong-gu branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association and the Seongdong-gu Volunteer Center.

The district plans not only to visit each household to provide fall prevention items but also to offer fall prevention education and conduct surveys for additional support. Furthermore, through the “Hyosarang Health Primary Care” project, which won the United Nations (UN) Public Administration Award, free shingles vaccinations, traditional Korean medicine treatments, and dementia screenings will be linked. Seongdong-gu expects that this fall prevention safe care project will also contribute to realizing integrated community care, which is the goal of Aging in Place.

Meanwhile, Seongdong-gu received re-certification as an Age-Friendly City from the World Health Organization (WHO) in October. After submitting a three-year plan for creating an Age-Friendly City to WHO in May 2020 and receiving initial certification, the district’s elderly welfare policies were recognized for their achievements over the past three years.

Jeong Wono, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, emphasized, “A truly customized project for the elderly must be supported from the perspective of the elderly themselves,” adding, “As an Age-Friendly City designated by the World Health Organization (WHO), we will make Seongdong-gu a safe place where elderly residents can live long and well.”

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