Guri City Launches Nation's First 'Guri-Style Green Care Project'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Guri City announced on the 10th that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dementia Relief Center, Terra Green Cooperative, and the village community 'Ulltari' at the Health Center to proceed with the 'Guri-Style Green Care Project,' and will begin implementing community-based integrated care services based on the social economy in full earnest.

This project is a prevention-focused integrated care initiative jointly pursued by the local community to address complex care issues such as dementia, depression, and social isolation that are increasing with entry into a super-aged society.

In particular, the method of jointly operating emotional healing programs utilizing plants through collaboration among the Health Center's Dementia Relief Center, cooperatives, and village communities is being evaluated as a new model for community care based on the social economy.

The group-based program will be conducted over 8 sessions targeting participants of the Dementia Relief Center's Memory Tree Rest Shelter and the Heartfelt Family Classroom, providing cognitive function improvement and psychological stability through various horticultural activities such as succulent planting, naming plants, creating glass bottle gardens, and making flower baskets.

The home-visit program directly reaches socially isolated households that avoid going out, providing emotional support and companionship services using flowers and companion plants to help them restore connection with society.

Mayor Shin Dong-hwa stated, "The Green Care Project is a new community care model created together by the administration, social economy organizations, and village communities," and added, "We will continuously expand prevention-focused integrated care policies so that elderly residents with dementia and socially isolated households can continue to lead healthy and happy lives in their communities."