Muju-gun, Operation of Dementia Safety Center Programs

Muju-gun will operate a visiting 1:1 Korean learning program starting from the 1st of next month to cultivate cognitive abilities in elderly people with dementia. Photo by Muju-gun

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Go Dallyeong] Muju-gun announced that starting from the 1st of next month, it will operate a visiting 1:1 Hangul learning program to cultivate the cognitive abilities of elderly dementia patients. This is due to the temporary suspension of programs within the Dementia Safety Center to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This project targets about 10 elderly individuals among the users of the shelter program who have difficulty proceeding with the program due to insufficient Hangul literacy as a rehabilitation program measure. Priority is given to basic livelihood security recipients and elderly living alone, and visits to individual elderly homes will be made twice a week until the center's programs resume.

Experts consisting of two dementia care specialists will strictly adhere to COVID-19 prevention measures such as thorough personal hygiene management and operate about one hour of dementia prevention exercises, reality orientation training, and Hangul classes.

This Hangul class is expected to be an opportunity for a "turning point" by providing 1:1 Hangul education to dementia elderly during the program suspension period, enabling smoother classes when the center's programs resume later.

Additionally, for 38 participants of the Dementia Safety Center programs (cognitive rehabilitation shelter, cognitive enhancement, self-help groups), a "Memory Kit" set consisting of nine types of cognitive rehabilitation teaching aids such as magnetic chessboards and an information leaflet will be sent via courier for the second time following the first shipment on April 1st.

This response measure aims to prevent the worsening of isolation and cognitive decline among dementia patients due to restrictions on outdoor activities caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dementia Safety Center at Muju Public Health Medical Center operates demand-tailored programs to help elderly dementia patients strengthen language cognition as well as mental and physical health.

In addition, various projects for elderly dementia patients are being carried out, including operating cognitive rehabilitation shelters, cognitive enhancement classes, self-help groups for families of dementia patients, and visiting "Ipalcheongchun" dementia prevention classes.

Park Inja, head of the Dementia Safety Team at the Health Administration Division of Muju Public Health Medical Center, said, "I hope the elderly overcome these difficult times well and we can see them healthy at the center," adding, "We will do our best to make Muju a place where people can live happily together."