Yeongdeungpo-gu, Medical Expense Support for Elderly in Korean Medicine

Individual Counseling and Korean Medicine Treatment Fee Support for Dementia and Depression Prevention in Seniors... Selection of Candidates through Screening for Those Aged 60 and Over... First 100 Applicants Accepted

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) announced that it will promote the ‘Elderly Korean Medicine Health Promotion Project,’ a Korean medicine medical expense support project, to prevent dementia and depression early among local elderly residents and to reduce the financial burden of cerebrovascular disease medical expenses.

As a result of the ‘Elderly Korean Medicine Health Promotion Project’ operated last year, the average scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS) and the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) improved by 2.21 points (9.1%) and 3.23 points (16.1%) respectively compared to before the implementation, and the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-Korean version (GDSSF-K) showed an improvement of 2.29 points (28.1%) compared to before the implementation. This indicates a very high level of satisfaction and effectiveness of the project among the elderly.

Considering the high effectiveness and preference of the project last year, the ‘Korean Medicine Health Promotion Project,’ which supports customized counseling and Korean medicine treatment to reduce the medical expenses burden caused by dementia and cognitive impairment due to aging, will continue to be operated this year as well.

In June, the district began the selection review of Korean medicine clinics in the area to participate in the project. The evaluation considered a wide range of factors including clinical experience of at least five years as a mandatory condition, expertise such as being a specialist in Korean neuropsychiatry or holding a doctoral degree in neuropsychiatry, willingness to participate in the project, and clinical experience.

The final designated Korean medicine clinics include a total of 14 locations such as Kyunghee Yundonghak Korean Medicine Clinic, Neulsarang Korean Medicine Clinic, and Jejung Korean Medicine Clinic. The full list can be checked on the Yeongdeungpo-gu Public Health Center website.

This year, a total of 100 elderly individuals will receive full free support for ▲Chongmyeong acupuncture treatment, ▲herbal medicine prescriptions (granules or decoctions), and ▲individual counseling programs at Korean medicine clinics.

The prescribed herbal medicines include Gwibi-tang, Gamigwibi-tang, Cheonwangbosimdan, Jowiseungcheong-tang, and Hwangryeonhaedok-tang, and patients can choose between decoctions or extract prescriptions according to individual preference.

Decoctions are prescribed based on two doses per day, two times a day.

Eligibility for support is for residents of Yeongdeungpo-gu aged 60 or older who are classified as high-risk in cognitive function assessment tests. Recruitment is ongoing on a first-come, first-served basis starting July 1.

Cognitive function tests can be taken at the Yeongdeungpo-gu Dementia Safety Center, and if classified as high-risk, the elderly can visit a nearby designated Korean medicine clinic to undergo blood tests and then receive health promotion programs such as Korean medicine treatment and herbal medicine prescriptions.

The district expects that the implementation of the elderly health promotion project will contribute to building a health management infrastructure with local Korean medicine society resources, enhancing equity in health management considering low-income elderly, improving elderly cognitive function, preventing dementia, and reducing social costs.

For more detailed information regarding the Korean Medicine Health Promotion Project, please contact the Medical Affairs Division of Yeongdeungpo-gu Office.

Additionally, the district produces its own cognitive, art, and exercise activity videos for dementia prevention and provides them in real-time on online platforms. It also distributes dementia prevention kits and conducts customized telephone feedback, striving to minimize care gaps for the elderly in response to COVID-19 and to prepare various support measures for dementia prevention.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “I hope this project will greatly help prevent and manage dementia and depression among the elderly,” and added, “We will spare no effort to provide various support so that the elderly can live healthier and more vibrant lives in their later years.”