[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Jeonnam Naju City (Mayor Kang In-gyu) has been operating the ‘Healing! Relaxing! Mini Care Farm,’ which combines productive agricultural activities with dementia care services, since April.
According to the city on the 12th, the ‘Mini Care Farm’ focuses on preserving the residual abilities of elderly dementia patients and their physical and mental healing by matching groups of normal elderly aged 70 and over, dementia patients, and cognitively impaired elderly to support customized garden activities.
The healing garden farms, which serve as activity spaces, have been established in three locations: Juksan-ri in Dasi-myeon and Da-an-ri village in Bannam-myeon, both designated as dementia-safe villages, and the Naju branch of the Korea Senior Citizens Association.
Participating seniors are engaged in group activities such as planting leafy vegetables and seasonal seedlings, weeding and fertilizing, and cultivating flower paths.
The harvested crops are delivered monthly to households of solitary and dementia elderly, contributing to enhancing participants’ sense of achievement and self-esteem.
The Dementia Safety Center plans to analyze the program’s effects on cognitive ability and memory of dementia patients through depression and dementia scale tests conducted before and after the garden activities.
Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “The Mini Care Farm service has achieved great effects not only in promoting healthy aging and leisure enjoyment for seniors but also in reducing depression and fostering community formation. We will do our best to improve negative perceptions of dementia based on the national dementia responsibility system, diversify care environments, and establish a foundation for an advanced dementia management system.”
Meanwhile, the Dementia Safety Center continuously operates dementia shelters, family classes, dementia prevention classes, and customized case management for dementia patients, their families, and the general public aged 60 and over.
Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong bong2910@asiae.co.kr
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