▲ Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during an on-site meeting with officials related to Seoul's integrated care system held at the Gwanak Health Care Connection Center in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on the 21st.
Seoul's "Seoul-Style Integrated Care," introduced in March, has provided a total of approximately 69,000 medical, health, and daily care services to about 14,000 people through last month, data showed.
The city plans to expand its integrated care targets next year and promote short-term care housing to help discharged patients or residents leaving facilities return smoothly to their daily lives.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that Mayor Oh Se-hoon presided over an on-site visit and meeting regarding integrated care at the Gwanak Health Care Connection Center in Gwanak-gu this afternoon (the 21st) to share policy achievements and discuss future improvements.
Seoul-Style Integrated Care is a program that connects personalized medical, health, nursing, daily care, and housing services so that adults aged 65 and older in need of care, as well as individuals under 65 with severe physical or brain lesion disabilities, can continue living in their own homes and neighborhoods.
Since its implementation on March 27 through last month, 20,711 people applied, and care services totaling 69,119 cases were provided to 14,343 of them.
This averages out to about 4.8 services per person.
By sector, daily care accounted for the highest share at 36.5%, followed by health management at 30.6%, housing welfare at 10.8%, long-term care at 9.8%, and public health and medical care at 9.4%.
Applications for integrated care can be submitted by individuals or their family members through local community service centers.
Assigned public officials assess care needs, establish personalized plans, connect necessary services through an integrated support meeting, and continuously monitor usage status.
The city currently has dedicated teams across 25 autonomous districts, establishing a cooperative network with 78 public institutions and 5,876 private organizations, including social welfare centers and in-home long-term care agencies.
Next year, the city plans to expand support eligibility to all individuals under 65 with severe disabilities and launch a pilot project for mental health patients.
Standard models will be established for specialized projects operated by each autonomous district to reduce service disparities between regions.
In addition, in cooperation with the Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH Corporation), the city will promote the creation of regional short-term care housing, known as "intermediate houses," to help citizens who have difficulty returning straight home after hospital discharge prepare for rehabilitation and a return to daily life.
During the meeting, Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "Everyone shares the same desire to continue living with neighbors in the homes they have long lived in and the neighborhoods they are familiar with, even when facing difficulties due to aging, illness, or disability." He added, "Based on voices from the field, we will build an even tighter community care network."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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