Health ministry convenes aid event for 52,000 older adults

The health ministry said Monday that funds and goods collected through its summer campaign will help 52,000 high-risk older adults living alone amid an unprecedented heat wave.

The ministry staged a sponsorship ceremony at the Seoul Garden Hotel, drawing representatives from eight participating companies and organizations: Korea Eximbank, LG Household & Health Care, Posco E&C, Daesang Wellife, SK Innovation, the hy Social Welfare Foundation, Lotte Welfare Foundation and the Korea Social Welfare Mutual Aid Association.

The May-to-September campaign, run by a support center for older adults living alone, had received about 2.54 billion won ($1.79 million) in donations and goods from 26 companies and organizations as of Aug. 10. Individuals, companies and organizations can join through September.

The support center and tailored eldercare providers will distribute aid nationwide, while activity supplies will go to 38,000 care workers providing daily safety checks.

"Heat waves are a major risk factor threatening the health and lives of older people who live alone," Hyun Soo-yeop, the health ministry's first vice minister, said. "We will continue to strengthen the protection system through public-private cooperation so vulnerable older people can safely get through this unprecedented heat wave."

Korea Eximbank is supporting electricity bills, while Posco E&C is providing fans and bedding and Lotte Welfare Foundation is offering AI safety-check calls. SK Innovation is providing summer supplies including bedding and neck coolers and arranging employee home-visit volunteering; LG Household & Health Care, Daesang Wellife and the hy Social Welfare Foundation are supplying food and health-drink items.