Starting next year, South Korea's health ministry will provide the elderly with customized care.<br />In addition to the 350-thousand existing basic care users, an additional 100-thousand seniors are expected to benefit from the service.<br />Park Se-young has more.<br /><br />This woman in her 90s finds it difficult to visit the hospital because of reduced mobility and dizziness.<br />Currently, she's receiving a basic care service, …which consists of weekly visits from a life manager and twice-weekly phone calls to check on her wellbeing.<br />"I'm so absent-minded that I can't do anything if I don't feel well and want medicine. So I just wait."<br />Starting next January, ...care services, which are currently divided into categories and provided only one at a time …will be customized to meet each senior's need.<br />From regular check-ins to being accompanied to hospitals, the elderly can combine multiple services as necessary.<br />The new services also include leisure activities and self-help group programs.<br />"The services used to be segmented and disconnected. The elderly will be able to explain their needs to life managers and receive such services."<br />The existing 350-thousand users do not need to reapply to continue receiving the services.<br />Those who are applying for the services for the first time can do so through community services from next March.<br />Seniors aged 65 and above who are receiving basic living subsidies or basic pensions or are working poor …and considered unable to live independently can receive the customized senior care.<br />Park Se-young, Arirang News.<br />
