Yongin City Receives High Praise for Integrated Dementia Prevention and Care Services

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Nohoon] "After being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment at the health center's dementia screening, I was shocked, but I'm overcoming depression by participating in the dementia prevention program." (Kim, resident of Cheoin-gu)

"Using the robot to play a mole-catching game and bounce a ball—it wasn't just a simple game but actually brain-stimulating exercise. Isn't that fascinating?" (Lee, resident of Cheoin-gu)

Yongin City announced on the 17th that the integrated dementia prevention and management services provided by dementia relief centers in each district's health center are receiving high praise from citizens.

According to the city, among approximately 18,000 citizens who underwent three-stage early dementia screening—screening, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis—this year, 397 people, or 2.14%, were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. If the first stage screening test shows a score below the standard, the second stage diagnostic test uses neuropsychological testing and clinical dementia assessment to classify patients as normal, mildly cognitively impaired, or demented.

Mild cognitive impairment refers to a condition where memory or cognitive function decline is confirmed but daily life is not significantly impaired. The city connects such cases with brain-stimulating exercise and memory improvement programs for dementia prevention.

For those with mild cognitive impairment or high dementia risk, the city operates five or more dementia prevention programs at each district's health center, including mobile healthy brain classes to rural health subcenter areas, grandfather cooking classes, and pottery experiences. This year, 5,414 elderly residents with mild cognitive impairment or high dementia risk participated in 621 classes.

Among these, the artificial intelligence robot 'Silbot' installed in the Cheoin-gu Health Center and Mohyeon Health Subcenters last year is drawing attention for its effectiveness. While elderly participants draw pictures, sing songs, and solve memory puzzles, 'Silbot' stimulates the brain to enhance calculation and quick thinking, spatial awareness, memory, and judgment. This year, 258 people participated in four classes using the robot. The city explained that the artificial intelligence robot is making a significant contribution to alleviating fear and negative perceptions about dementia.

If the second stage diagnostic test confirms dementia, the third stage differential diagnostic test through blood tests and brain imaging coordinated with local cooperative hospitals helps identify the cause of dementia.

The city supports patients diagnosed with dementia by providing care supplies such as wandering alert wristbands and treatment costs, and links them with mild dementia day centers or home nursing services. This year, the city provided treatment costs of approximately 224.9 million won to 1,148 patients and supplied 4,334 care items and 259 wandering alert wristbands. The day centers operate programs targeting mild dementia patients aged 60 and older, providing daytime care and group cognitive rehabilitation, with 587 sessions operated this year.

A city official said, "Participants show strong enthusiasm, with many wanting to continue classes even after using their three-session limit," adding, "Satisfaction is high because families can also enjoy self-help meetings or leisure time during classes."

For severe dementia patients who have difficulty coming to health centers, the city also provides home nursing services. Health center nurses and social workers form teams of two to visit 170 patient homes, providing one-on-one cognitive enhancement training using words, pictures, and puzzles through a self-developed textbook titled 'Fun Brain Exercise 365.' After sessions, the city provides necessary items such as anti-slip mats, socks, and canes for dementia-affected households and provides detailed information on how to manage dementia symptoms and medication use.

Yongin City's Cheoin-gu Dementia Relief Center was selected as a recipient of the Minister of Health and Welfare's commendation in recognition of these efforts.

Yongin Mayor Baek Kun-ki said, "Dementia goes beyond an individual patient's problem and must be approached and solved at a societal level as a community issue," adding, "We will acknowledge dementia as part of life and will not hesitate to provide substantial support to patients and families."

Meanwhile, the city will hold various experiential events and lectures on Dementia Awareness Day on the 21st to improve awareness of dementia and build public consensus. The city will set up Dementia Awareness Day commemoration booths at Giheung-gu on the 17th, Suji-gu on the 19th, and Cheoin-gu Health Center on the 20th to operate diverse events including dementia prevention program experiences, exhibitions of dementia patients' artwork, dementia screening, dementia awareness surveys, and elderly simulation experiences. Each health center will also host special lectures on dementia prevention by local specialists.