Uiwang City Wins Excellence Award at Manifesto Contest for Ultra-Aging Response

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Uiwang City has won an excellence award in the ultra-aging response category at the "2020 National Basic Local Government Leaders' Manifesto Excellence Cases Contest" hosted by the Korea Manifesto Practice Headquarters Association.

The contest saw 353 cases submitted across seven categories by 144 basic local government entities nationwide. At the final judging held online in a non-contact format on the 9th, Uiwang City won the excellence award with the theme "New Hope Memories at Dementia Café Gieokmarue!"

The dementia café "Gieokmarue" is an activity space where elderly people with dementia can take orders, serve coffee, and organize directly, utilizing the location, materials, and expertise provided by a privately-operated coffee shop.

The project is managed by volunteers, occupational therapists, visiting nurses, and community peace leaders who provide support for the elderly from their commutes to their daily activities and safety management.

Uiwang City reported that through the dementia café, participating elderly people have achieved the effect of relieving depression and enhancing self-efficacy. The city also noted that it has provided an opportunity to improve public awareness of dementia in the community.

Mayor Kim Sang-don of Uiwang City stated, "We will build a more robust safety net by expanding the Dementia Care Partners initiative, opening franchise dementia cafés, and creating safety roadmaps so that elderly people with dementia can live confidently as members of our community."