Incheon City to Expand Specialized Ward at 2nd Municipal Elderly Dementia Care Hospital... Completion by Year-End

Incheon 2nd Municipal Elderly Dementia Care Hospital Expansion Bird's-eye View [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is expanding the dementia-specialized ward of the 2nd Municipal Elderly Dementia Nursing Hospital.

The city announced that it will start construction on the expansion of the dementia-specialized ward on the 3rd, investing 4.2 billion KRW in project costs including national funds through the Ministry of Health and Welfare's public nursing hospital function enhancement project.

The dementia-specialized ward will be built with a total floor area of 970.08㎡ across the 1st and 3rd floors above ground, featuring 46 beds, a bathing room, a program room, and a rooftop garden. Completion is targeted for December this year.

The city also plans to introduce 39 types of medical equipment additionally for inpatient management.

So far, dementia-specialized wards have been installed in 50 public nursing hospitals nationwide, and Incheon’s 1st Municipal Elderly Dementia Nursing Hospital established a dementia-specialized ward with 37 beds in May 2019.

Incheon City plans to promote the designation of the 1st and 2nd Municipal Elderly Dementia Nursing Hospitals as dementia-safe hospitals by the first half of next year at the latest. Dementia-safe hospitals are designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to professionally treat and manage dementia patients with violent or delusional tendencies who are difficult to care for at home.

An Incheon city official stated, "We will expand public infrastructure such as the expansion of the dementia ward at the 2nd Municipal Elderly Dementia Nursing Hospital to alleviate the burden on families providing care."