Jinju City’s Dementia Lighthouse Project to Prevent Missing Dementia Patients

Contributing to the Early Discovery of Missing Persons

Exterior view of Jinju City Dementia Relief Center

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Jinju City, Gyeongnam Province, has been promoting the Dementia Lighthouse Keeper Project since May 2017 to create a "Happy Jinju without Dementia Burden" and prevent missing elderly dementia patients.

The Dementia Lighthouse Keeper Project designates small local businesses such as restaurants and hair salons as dementia lighthouse keepers. When a missing dementia elderly report is received by the police station and the regional dementia center, the Gyeongnam Regional Dementia Center sends the missing person's information via text message to the participating dementia lighthouse keepers to support early discovery and return to their families.

After receiving an emergency text about a missing dementia elderly, the dementia lighthouse keepers search the surroundings. If they find a dementia patient or notice abnormal behavior such as loss of sense of direction or difficulty moving due to dementia, they immediately guide the person to their business and report and hand them over to the police station.

A representative from the Dementia Safety Center said, "We aim to further expand the dementia lighthouse keepers through cooperation with related organizations in cases of missing dementia elderly, and we hope many private businesses and welfare centers will take interest and participate in the future."