Basic Care Expanded to Island Communities... Connecting with 'Nambit Basic Care'

Jeonnam Social Service Center and Ministry of Health and Welfare Inspect Services for Socially Vulnerable Areas

On September 29, the Jeonnam Social Service Center, together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, visited Jodo-myeon in Jindo County to inspect the site where a project supporting socially vulnerable areas is being implemented.

Currently, in Jodo, Jindo, medical, care, and daily living support services are being provided to 34 residents aged 65 and over. These services utilize AI companion robots for daily and emotional care, remote medical consultations, care food provision, and mental health counseling. Four island managers are working in close proximity to residents, and the Jindo Senior Welfare Center is participating as a local partner organization.

On the 29th, employees of the Jeonnam Social Service Institute visited Jodo in Jindo County to provide care and health checks for the elderly residents of the island area. Provided by the Social Service Institute

In particular, the project is not limited to delivering pre-determined services but is operated to proactively monitor the residents’ health and living conditions, and actively seek out needed support. Through this process, ten residents have been identified for intensive care food support and six have been identified as needing mental health counseling. The program also responds to difficulties with daily life, such as cleaning, organizing and storing, as well as disinfection and pest control.

With consideration for the unique characteristics of island areas—such as insufficient medical and social service supply and difficulties with transportation—the Center is strengthening care by utilizing AI and remote technologies in conjunction with local human resources. At the site on this day, officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Jeonnam Social Service Center, Jindo Senior Welfare Center, Hyodol Co., Ltd., Ssoldoc Co., Ltd., and Bokji-Union Co., Ltd. attended to review service operations and share field challenges.

Based on experience accumulated in Jodo, the Center also plans to further develop the implementation plan for “Nambit Basic Care,” a universal care system for the Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Integrated City.

Mikyung Shin, head of the Jeonnam Social Service Center, stated, “No one should be excluded from essential everyday care simply because they live on an island,” and added, “The method by which care reaches residents should vary by region, not the content of the care itself.” She continued, “Based on the lessons learned in Jodo, we will work to realize Nambit Basic Care so that even residents of island areas can receive the care they need.”

Meanwhile, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Integrated City and the Jeonnam Social Service Center are providing customized social services for 100 residents aged 65 and over across four islands—Jodo in Jindo, Sisan-do in Goheung, Soan-do in Wando, and Jangsan-do in Shinan—through the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s vulnerable area social service project. As of September 21, a total of 38 telemedicine sessions and 200 care food supports have been provided across these four regions.

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