UCA News
Contribute

Korea

Seoul parishes adjust to help the elderly

Updated: September 16, 2009 09:05 AM GMT
Support Asia's largest network of Catholic journalists and editors
Support Asia's largest network of Catholic journalists and editors
Share this article :

Some parishes in Seoul archdiocese will turn their facilities into day-care centers for elderly people in need.

HK437_1.jpg 

Elderly being helped with activities at a government-run center. (Photo courtesy of Yeongdeungpo Care Center)

For such people who cannot be cared for by their families during the day, the archdiocese plans to care for them by setting up centers with support from the Seoul Metropolitan government. "In a society with many elderly, care for senior citizens in South Korea is essential," said Father Peter Lee Sung-wone. The director of the Department for the Seniors of Seoul archdiocese said the initiative will promptly enable the local Church to cope with a rapidly aging society, in which the birth rate has declined coupled with people living longer. "It is in line with the Church´s mission to serve those in need," he added. He said 25 parishes have applied for the project so far. They will serve the elderly suffering from Alzheimer´s disease or other ailments pertaining to old age. In July, the city government proposed to the archdiocese that such centers be established in parishes. It also made similar proposals to Buddhist temples and Protestant churches. However, only one Buddhist temple and one Protestant church agreed, a Seoul archdiocesan official said. According to an official of Seoul archdiocese´s ministry to the elderly, the city aims to spread the centers evenly across Seoul and the Catholic Church´s parishes seems to fit its need. The archdiocesan department informed parishes about such day-care centers and encouraged them to join in the project last July. The parishes provide existing buildings and facilities and the city government financially supports their remodeling and staff expenses. Within this year, 15 out of the 25 parishes that agreed to help will begin services to the elderly while the remaining will do so by next year. Each parish will serve 15 to 20 elderly people regardless of religion. The day-care centers will provide the elderly with facilities such as medical treatment, rehabilitation, emotional support and counseling. Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul and Seoul mayor Stephen Oh Se-hoon will, before the end of September, sign an official agreement to provide such services. As of 2008, Seoul archdiocese had 217 parishes and ran 134 social welfare facilities for elderly people. The city government estimates it currently runs 109 day-care centers for the elderly and aims to increase the number to 250, including those in Seoul archdiocesan parishes by 2010. According to the Korea National Statistical Office, as of 2005, among the 48 million South Koreans, 4.4 million or close to one-tenth of them were 65 years or older. It is estimated that this number will rise to 11 percent by next year and to a little more than 15 percent by 2020.
Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
November begins with the Feast of All Saints. That month will mark the beginning of a new UCA News series, Saints of the New Millenium, that will profile some of Asia’s saints, “ordinary” people who try to live faithfully amid the demands of life in our time.
Perhaps the closest they will ever come to fame will be in your reading about them in UCA News. But they are saints for today. Let their example challenge and encourage you to live your own sainthood.
Your contribution will help us present more such features and make a difference in society by being independent and objective.
A small donation of US$5 a month would make a big difference in our quest to achieve our goals.
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
YOUR DAILY
NEWSLETTER
Thank you. You are now signed up to our Daily Full Bulletin newsletter
 
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia