SK Innovation said Tuesday that, to mark the 10th anniversary of its volunteer activity "Sharing Happiness, Connecting Love" for the elderly living alone, it will support the psychological recovery and recharging of caregivers who have been dedicated to caring for this demographic.
SK Innovation's caregiver healing camp, "Caring for Caregivers," was held over two days starting from the previous day (the 26th) at the Arcadia in the Walkerhill Hotel in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, targeting 50 caregivers including life support workers and social welfare officers for the elderly living alone. The initiative aims to contribute to alleviating the difficulties of the care field and creating a sustainable care environment by supporting the psychological recovery and recharging of not only the elderly living alone but also the caregivers who look after them.
The healing camp for caregivers, which was suspended due to COVID-19, has resumed this year.
SK Innovation noted that as care demand increases with rapid aging, the workload and emotional exhaustion of caregivers are growing, which can lead to a decline in the quality of care activities.
In fact, South Korea entered a super-aged society within just seven years from an aged society (14%) after the proportion of the population aged 65 and over exceeded 20% of the total in December 2024. This is the fastest pace among OECD countries.
This year's healing camp featured various programs themed around △Caring for the Mind (Healing) △Recovery of Body and Mind (Refresh) △New Resolutions (Commitment).
On the first day of the camp, participants engaged in a "Strength Management Special Lecture" to reflect on their strengths and the value of care work, as well as "Backdrop Painting Flower Decoration Making" activities through art and horticulture to aid emotional recovery. They also participated in recreation and networking programs to communicate with colleagues and relieve work stress.
On the second day, sessions included "Mind-Body-Spirit Training" at SK Happiness Wings Training Center to boost physical and mental vitality, and a special lecture by an external expert on overcoming burnout and mind management techniques.
Over the past 10 years, SK Innovation has worked to build a social safety net for vulnerable groups by identifying risk factors in daily life and providing emotional stability through its care activities for the elderly living alone. From 2017 to this year, a total of approximately 36,000 people, including more than 25,000 SK Innovation employee volunteers and over 10,000 life support workers for the elderly living alone, have participated in providing economic, emotional, and social care to more than 33,000 elderly individuals living alone.
A company official said, "To enhance the sustainability of care activities for the elderly living alone, it is also important to show interest in and support the caregivers who remain on the front lines." The official added, "Going forward, SK Innovation plans to strengthen the protection system for the elderly living alone and build an even more robust social safety net."
Meanwhile, SK Innovation is an energy, chemical, and materials intermediate holding company of SK Group, rooted in Korea National Oil Corporation, the first refinery established in South Korea in 1962.
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