The old and the young will share and enjoy certain activities together such as cleaning, bathing, massaging, and will be companions for one another. (image: KobizMedia/Korea Bizwire)
BUSAN, July 8 (Korea Bizwire) – A welfare facility where the elderly and the young can live together has recently opened in Busan.
The Jongdeok Welfare Foundation opened the Keunbyeol Nursing Home in the Jongdeok Foster Care Home building, which is located in the Yeonje District of Busan, on Thursday, July 7.
The Jongdeok Foster Care building has four stories above ground and one story below. The new nursing home is opening on the third and fourth floors following renovations.
At the new nursing home, 44 children between the ages of 6 and 18 in foster care will live under the same roof as the elderly patients. The nursing home can house a maximum of 38 patients.
The old and the young will share and enjoy certain activities together such as cleaning, bathing, massaging, and will be companions for one another.
When admitted to the nursing home, patients will receive medical treatment and care including 24-hour monitoring, physical therapy, fitness exercises, arts and crafts, recreation, taking a walk, blood pressure and nutrition management, regular doctor check-ups, and scheduled visits to affiliated medical institutions.
“We often hear the elderly cry from loneliness, but now they will have young buddies to feel rejuvenated, and the children will feel like they have a new family,” said Lee Myung-sook, director of Keunbyeol Nursing Home.
Jongdeok Foster Care was first opened in 1929 in Seoul, but relocated to Busan during the Korean War. It once housed more than 100 children, but the number has declined over time.
The children have been receiving education and training to become independent through a variety of programs.
By M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
