Gwangju City and Jeonnam Provincial Forest Resources Research Institute Sign Agreement on Utilizing Forest Healing

Gwangju City signed a business agreement with the Jeonnam Provincial Forest Resources Research Institute to strengthen the cooperative system for utilizing forest healing programs for dementia patients and their families, and they are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City has launched efforts to revitalize the ‘Forest Healing Program’ for dementia patients and their families.

On the 7th, Gwangju City signed a business agreement with the Jeonnam Provincial Forest Resources Research Institute to strengthen the cooperative system for utilizing forest healing programs for dementia patients and their families. The agreement includes cooperation in ▲linking forest healing programs ▲utilizing forest healing resources and programs ▲supporting dementia prevention education and training dementia partners.

The main forest healing programs include ▲forest breathing and meditation ▲stretching ▲finger yoga ▲tapping for qi and blood circulation. Starting next month, these will be actively used in dementia prevention and cognitive enhancement programs for elderly users of local dementia relief centers, as well as programs for families of dementia patients.

Recently, healing resources have been recognized as effective programs for dementia prevention and cognitive support.

In particular, they have attracted attention as outdoor activities with low infection risk and sufficient social distancing during the COVID-19 social distancing period, when indoor activities were difficult.

Additionally, it is expected to provide an opportunity for mild dementia patients and their families to boost immunity and improve health through forest healing factors such as forest scenery, fragrance, water sounds, phytoncides, negative ions, and sunlight.

Earlier, the city signed a business agreement last month with the National Jangseong Forest Experience Center and Jeonnam Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services, and plans to conduct outdoor healing programs utilizing healing resources starting next month.

Im Jin-seok, Director of the City Health Policy Division, said, “We will actively support mild dementia elderly to maintain their health through programs utilizing healing resources.”