Gimhae City Leads Missing Person Response as 'Dementia Lighthouse Keeper'

Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province, has selected five additional Dementia Lighthouse Keeper companies to prevent the disappearance of elderly dementia patients.
[Image source=Gimhae City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] On the 18th, the Dementia Safety Center in Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam, additionally selected five local businesses in Bulam-dong as ‘Dementia Lighthouse Keepers’ and delivered plaques to them.

Dementia Lighthouse Keepers are private businesses designated within the local community that temporarily protect dementia patients who have lost their way, immediately report and connect to 112, and return them to their families, thereby preventing disappearances.

So far, the city has designated 54 businesses as Dementia Lighthouse Keepers, taking the lead in responding to missing cases. This time, five businesses including Seonam Susan in the Bulam area have joined. Starting with the designation of five businesses this year, the plan is to select more than 100 lighthouse keepers to make Gimhae a safe place where elderly dementia patients and their families can live with peace of mind.

Businesses wishing to participate can apply by phone to the Gimhae Dementia Safety Center.

Lee Jong-hak, director of the Dementia Safety Center, said, “To build a dense dementia safety network, active participation from not only public institutions but also ordinary stores is necessary,” and added, “We ask for the participation of even more businesses.”