Nowon-gu Operates Non-Face-to-Face Dementia Prevention Program 'Daily Home Run'

Free Dementia Screening for Residents Aged 60+ in Nowon-gu: 44,140 Registered as of May... ‘Gieokchingu’ Volunteers Provide Weekly Phone Learning Monitoring and Elderly Care Support

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is operating the Daily Home Run program to help early detection of dementia through screening tests and to improve cognitive abilities for the elderly.

Daily Home Run is a program that delivers dementia prevention workbooks to homes monthly and is monitored by volunteers.

Elderly residents aged 60 or older living in Nowon-gu can make a phone reservation at the Dementia Safety Center for a free dementia screening. Reservations are fully booked through June, reflecting high interest and participation from residents.

Based on the test results, participants are categorized into dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or normal groups, and linked to customized programs suitable for each stage.

If diagnosed with dementia, they are referred to specialized medical institutions; if diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, they are connected to cognitive enhancement classes to prevent symptom worsening and support continuous management.

Even those who receive a normal diagnosis can participate in various programs such as dementia prevention classes.

The Daily Home Run program, operating since April, delivers monthly workbooks to elderly individuals who were screened and found to be normal. The workbooks include activities such as tracing, recording, and brain stimulation exercises that help prevent dementia.

To facilitate smooth learning, 50 volunteer "Memory Friends," mainly university students, monitor the learning progress weekly by phone. Memory Friends not only assist with consistent learning but also check on the elderly by phone to prevent care gaps.

Additionally, the district implements the Dementia Safety Primary Care Physician project, partnering with 11 hospitals in the area through the Dementia Safety Center to connect services. Low-income individuals can receive financial support for detailed dementia tests and hospital fees, reducing the economic burden on patients and their families.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok stated, “If dementia is detected early and managed properly, symptoms can be improved and disease progression can be halted. Since the elderly population aged 65 and over accounts for 16.3% of the total residents in Nowon-gu, we will promote various dementia support projects to reduce worries and burdens about dementia and to cut social costs.”