100 days into Yeongdeungpo-gu's integrated care initiative (July 4), the district is delivering on its vision of healthy aging at home — improving quality of life through tailored care spanning rehabilitation, meal support and fall prevention, backed by 1,500 newly distributed care guides to broaden service accessibility.
Yeongdeungpo-gu said its integrated care initiative — designed to help residents age healthily in their own homes and neighborhoods rather than in hospitals or institutions — has drawn a strong response from the community. District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon leads the effort.
An 82-year-old surnamed Kim underwent major surgery after a fall. After being discharged, she had safety grab bars and anti-slip mats installed in her bathroom and received in-home rehabilitation sessions from a professional exercise instructor. "Now I can move around the house comfortably without worrying about falling," she said.
A 75-year-old surnamed Lee, who lives with chronic kidney disease, has been receiving regular deliveries of low-sodium meals tailored to her condition, easing her daily burden. "It was hard enough just to put together a single meal on my own, but now that food suited to my condition is delivered right to my door, I feel so much better — both physically and mentally," she said.
Launched in earnest in January, the Yeongdeungpo integrated care program links medical, welfare and health management services to provide personalized care matched to each resident's health condition and living environment.
To that end, the district operates an "integrated support council" that brings together public institutions — including the local public health center and the National Health Insurance Service — as well as private welfare organizations, to draw up individualized support plans for each beneficiary. The council has convened 13 times to date, connecting and delivering roughly 750 tailored care services and steadily building a community-centered integrated care network.
Signature programs unique to Yeongdeungpo-gu have become cornerstones of the effort, helping elderly residents and people with disabilities live safely in familiar surroundings. They include a safe-discharge integrated care project, a home-visit exercise education program, a customized meal support service called "Healthy Home," a zero-care-gap care package project, a fall-prevention home care project, and a respite care system for families of long-term care recipients.
To make these services more accessible, the district produced 1,500 copies of the "2026 Yeongdeungpo-gu Integrated Care Guide" and began distributing them June 26 at the 18 neighborhood community centers, the public health center, general social welfare centers and private care organizations.
The guide consolidates care services and application procedures across six fields — healthcare, health management and prevention, long-term care, daily living support, residential welfare and disability support — into a single volume, allowing any resident in need of care to easily find information and seek consultation.
"When the moment comes that you need care, I hope you can continue living comfortably in the home where you have spent so much of your life," district Mayor Choi said.
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