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There will be many people who visited their parents on the first Mother's Day after social distancing was lifted.

In the meantime, the elderly living alone, who had to feel even greater loneliness due to COVID-19, have welcomed guests after a long time.



This is reporter Yoo Deok-gi.



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On Mother's Day, volunteers visited her grandmother, who lives alone.



After she lifted social distancing, she was able to meet comfortably after a long time.



[Kim Hyo-suk (76 years old): Better than her children.

Call me like this often.

Come and help when you are inconvenient.]



[Kyung-ae Yoo / Nowon-gu, Seoul Volunteer Camp: It's been a long time since I've visited face-to-face like this.

It's so good.

I am doing this today.]



Face-to-face visits were essential to check the health of the elderly living alone.



However, for the past two years or so, it has been mostly to say hello over the phone or say hello outside the door even when visiting.



[Old man in his 60s living alone: ​​There should be some interaction, but there is no such thing, so it is a bit lonely.]



[Kim Hee-ja / Seongbuk-gu, Seoul Volunteer Corps: I think you are desperate.

You can’t even talk to someone, meet someone and do this (not properly).]



The emotional crisis felt by the elderly during the COVID-19 period is also confirmed in statistics.



4 out of 10 people in their 60s or older said that they had no one to turn to for help, indicating a very high degree of 'social isolation' compared to other age groups.



It is estimated that the feeling of isolation experienced by the elderly living alone was greater than this.



[70s old woman living alone: ​​I don't talk well.

I have to, but I just ignore it.

Feeling left out...

.]



The recovery of daily life has begun in earnest, but it is still a long way off for these people.



[Song In-joo/Senior Research Fellow, Seoul Welfare Foundation: (The recovery of daily life for the elderly living alone) I think it will take a little longer.

(In the future), a service management system should be established to maintain at least the minimum number of home-visited services.]



1.76 million elderly people 65 years of age or older living alone, a trend that is increasing every year.



Experts advise that intensive care is needed together with the local community as the feeling of isolation has grown due to COVID-19.



{ Video coverage: Chansu Lee, Video editing: Minkyu Jeon, VJ: Hyungjin Kim, CG: Dongmin Seo)