The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday a plan to support the city’s 217,000 senior citizens living alone.

According to the city’s recent survey, of the more than 1 million elderly people aged 65 or older in Seoul, 21.5 percent live alone, many of them financially struggling.

The number of aged living alone has continued to increase in recent years from 16.2 percent in 2004, the city said.

As part of the full-fledged support programs, the city will designate 25 exclusive organizations for each district so they can manage the database of beneficiaries and oversee the activities of other welfare facilities.

The city also decided on five projects to extend support by 2014, such as free meals, daily activities, housing, income and healthcare services.

The free meal service will be expanded from the current 8,800 seniors to 26,800, while those whose long-term care cannot be covered under the national health insurance scheme will benefit from housework and nursing services.

A special mobile phone which detects the owner’s movement as well as allowing emergency calls will be given to 10,000 elderly people who have difficulty moving due to health problems.

Considering that 66 percent of elderly people living alone are homeless, the city will build additional collective residences while providing rental homes where two to three people can live together.

As the recent survey found many elderly people wanted to work, 20 percent of the public work jobs earmarked for underprivileged people will be given to senior citizens.

“Through 25 stronghold facilities, we will prevent benefits from being overlapped while elevating their satisfaction,” said Lee Jung-kwan, director-general of health and welfare.

“By continuing to extend welfare services for low-income senior citizens, we will remove welfare blind spot,” he said.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)