Seongdong-gu launches integrated care hair and beauty service for homebound seniors and people with disabilities

Seoul's Seongdong-gu will provide a hair and beauty service under its integrated care program for homebound seniors and people under 65 with severe brain lesion or physical disabilities.

Launching this year for the first time, the "Seongdong Integrated Care Hair and Beauty Service" is a specialized district initiative aimed at improving hygiene and self-esteem among seniors and people with disabilities who have difficulty leaving home. The program runs two tracks in parallel: a home-visit model, in which licensed professionals and volunteers travel directly to recipients, and an institution-linked model for those who use welfare centers.

The district has partnered with community welfare organizations and social economy entities that already have relevant experience and trained staff — including the Seongdong Community Welfare Center and the Seongdong Social Economy Support Center — to deliver the service, strengthening both its continuity and public accountability.

The district has also introduced a sliding-scale fee structure to reduce the financial burden on recipients. Each session costs 24,000 won ($17), but recipients on the national basic livelihood benefit or the near-poverty tier pay nothing. Those receiving the basic pension pay only 4,800 won ($3) per session — 20 percent of the fee — with the district covering the remaining 80 percent, for up to three sessions per year.

In addition to hair and beauty care, the licensed professionals and volunteers taking part in the program are expected to check on recipients' health and well-being during visits and, where needed, connect them to additional integrated care services — helping prevent social isolation and strengthening the community safety net.

Because the hair and beauty service is offered as part of the integrated care program, residents not already enrolled must first apply for integrated care. Those who have difficulty applying in person due to mobility limitations may have a guardian apply on their behalf by consulting the welfare team at their local community service center.