Hwaseong City Health Center Operates Dementia Program 'Memory Sharing Cognitive Health Class'

Hwaseong City Health Center operates 'Memory Sharing Cognitive Health Class,' a comprehensive cognitive enhancement program centered in the southwestern region that provides proper dementia education and integrates reminiscence therapy.

Through the 'Memory Sharing Cognitive Health Class,' the health center plans to directly visit senior community centers in Hwaseong to provide continuous preventive and management services to high-risk dementia groups, thereby preventing and managing dementia while reducing psychological burden and economic costs to society.

The program begins on the 13th and runs until February 13th, held twice weekly for a total of 8 sessions at 8 senior community centers located in areas including Deokuri, Sanggi 1-ri, Yamok 4-ri, Yupo 2-ri, Ssanghak 3-ri, Gupo 1-ri, Seulhang 1-ri, and Sinnam 3-dong. The program is composed of various content to promote cognitive function including traditional games, language, art, music, and exercise therapy for dementia prevention.

Hwaseong City Health Center will conduct dementia risk (screening) tests for residents aged 60 and older and support precision diagnostic examination fees (including MRI) through health center-designated medical institutions for those determined to have high dementia risk. The center also plans to support approximately 30,000 won in monthly medication costs for low-income patients diagnosed with dementia.

Additionally, residents can utilize various dementia services provided by the health center, including case management for elderly dementia patients, dementia-related information provision and counseling, and distribution of identification tags for dementia patients at risk of wandering outside their homes.

Han Sang-yeong, director of the health center, stated, "Dementia is a disease that causes great suffering not only to patients but also to families through psychological pain and economic burden," adding, "We will continuously develop and operate a specialized dementia management system that can be helpful to dementia patients and their families as well as prevent dementia."