[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters] What Makes the Dementia App Created by the District Office Different?

The application (app) called ‘Naeson-e Chimae Anshim Juchui’ allows users to easily check information about medical institutions designated as dementia care primary doctors within Seongdong-gu in real time via mobile. It provides information on hospitals and clinics in four zones?Wangsimni, Geumho, Majang, and Seongsu?as well as phone connection services. Additionally, it is linked with Google Maps to search routes from the user’s location to the hospital. This app is available on Android smartphones and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. For inquiries related to dementia patient support services and affiliated medical institutions, contact the Seongdong-gu Dementia Safety Center.

Dementia screening on the go conducted by Seongdong-gu from April to July
[Photo by Seongdong-gu]

‘Dementia Care Primary Doctor’ has been a program since 2019 that partners with nearby local hospitals in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to enable early detection of dementia and continuous treatment and management. Currently, 29 hospitals and clinics in Seongdong-gu have agreements under this program. The Seongdong-gu Dementia Safety Center had previously produced informational materials to help dementia patients and their families conveniently use the ‘Dementia Care Primary Doctor’ service, but in keeping with the digital age, they have developed a smartphone app. In April, Seongdong-gu signed a business agreement with Hanyang University for app development and maintenance, agreeing to jointly participate in projects requiring mutual cooperation.

App screen of Dementia Care Physician in Naeson, Seongdong-gu

Seongdong-gu has focused on dementia prevention and treatment management centered on the local community. From April to July, a three-month period, it operated the ‘2023 Visiting Cognitive Counseling Center,’ a dementia screening program that toured community service centers. This early dementia screening service offers cognitive screening tests, neuropsychological tests, and specialist consultations all in one place at community service centers near residents’ homes. Any local resident aged 60 or older can participate free of charge. The Seongdong-gu Dementia Safety Center provides various customized integrated dementia management services for local residents, including telemedicine, tailored case management, support projects for dementia patients and their families, dementia awareness improvement projects, and operation of dementia-safe villages. In particular, they published a revised edition of the dementia prevention booklet ‘Seongdong Ieum - Connecting Memories,’ whose effectiveness has been verified through publication in neuroscience academic journals, promoting its spread throughout the community.

Seongdong-gu has created well-being yellow soil trails in Muhakbong Neighborhood Park (photo) and Eungbong Neighborhood Park.
[Photo provided by Seongdong-gu]

Additionally, responding to residents’ requests to walk on loess paths, a 45-meter circular loess path was created at Eungbong Neighborhood Park (Daehyeonsan), and a 25-meter loess path was established at Muhakbong Neighborhood Park. Shoe lockers and foot washing stations were also installed so that people can wash their feet after walking barefoot. Jung Won-oh, the mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “I hope everyone can visit these parks close to the city without burden and enjoy healing time in daily life.” He added, “Through walking barefoot on the loess paths, I hope residents lead healthy daily lives.”