Yeonsu-gu District (Mayor Lee Jae-ho) in Incheon has been selected as an outstanding institution in dementia care programs on the occasion of the 19th Dementia Overcoming Day, organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and received a commendation from the health minister. The district announced the news on the 7th.
 [The Korean Today] Health minister’s commendation for outstanding dementia care institution © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The commendation is awarded to outstanding dementia centers nationwide that have contributed to overcoming dementia in their communities through the national dementia care program. Yeonsu-gu was the only dementia center among Incheon’s counties and districts to be named.
In 2017, Yeonsu-gu laid the foundation for its dementia care by establishing the nation’s first integrated dementia and mental health center. After declaring itself a ‘Dementia-Worry-Free City’ in 2024, the district has continued early detection and registration management of dementia, missing-person prevention, customized case management and cognitive enhancement programs.
The district’s approach does not stop at individual patients. It is characterized by integrated care services that cover families and local residents as well, strengthening a system in which the community manages dementia together.
Three programs mainly earned high marks in this evaluation: an integrated support system built on a dedicated dementia counseling hotline and customized case management; early identification of high-risk groups through permanent dementia screening; and the ‘Memory Care Program,’ which provides one-on-one management for residents showing cognitive decline.
As the population ages rapidly, dementia is regarded as a problem that affects not only patients but also the entire daily lives of their families. With the commendation confirming that early screening, counseling and continuous case management are provided within a single system, the safety net for dementia care felt by Yeonsu-gu residents is expected to become that much stronger.
Yeonsu-gu Mayor Lee Jae-ho said, “This commendation from the health minister is the result of the public and private sectors working together to overcome dementia. We will continue to build a close-knit dementia care system so that both dementia patients and their families can live with peace of mind.”
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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