"Because I Can Breathe, I'm Happy to Be Alive"… 'Dementia Overcoming Day'

"I am happy to be alive. I am truly happy because I can breathe, live, and touch."

The curtain rose on the '16th Dementia Overcoming Day Commemoration Event' with performances by the Noso Noso Choir (Senior) and the Dongdaemun-gu Boys and Girls Choir. The Ministry of Health and Welfare held the '16th Dementia Overcoming Day Commemoration Event' on the 21st at 2 p.m. at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry International Conference Hall.

On the 21st, at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, the Nosonoso Choir (Senior) and the Dongdaemun-gu Boys and Girls Choir are singing a song titled "Let's Be Together" at the "16th Dementia Overcoming Day Commemoration Event."
[Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare]

Every year, September 21 is designated as 'Dementia Overcoming Day.' In 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO), together with the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), established this day to raise new awareness about the care of dementia patients by families and society. South Korea has also designated it as a legal commemorative day to widely promote the importance of dementia management and to build a nationwide consensus to overcome dementia.

This year marks the 16th event, held amid a rapidly aging population with the number of dementia patients expected to exceed one million next year. The event reflects on the difficulties faced by dementia patients and their families and carries the meaning of encouraging the government and the public to join forces to create a society where dementia patients can live well.

Lee Ki-il, the 1st Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, "The government will actively promote dementia policies such as dementia prevention and care for dementia patients in preparation for the rapid aging of the population." Vice Minister Lee added, "To improve awareness of dementia, we will change the terminology related to dementia. Terms such as cognitive impairment, cognitive disease, and cognitive decline are being discussed, and we are selecting appropriate words together with the National Institute of the Korean Language."

Until now, the term dementia has been criticized for creating prejudice against the illness and causing humiliation to patients and their families. The word dementia reflects the Latin medical term ‘Dementia’ meaning ‘mental disorder’ and was translated into the Chinese character word 치매 (癡?·foolish). Since early this year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has formed a consultative body to discuss revising dementia-related terminology.

Lee Gi-il, the 1st Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the "16th Dementia Overcoming Day Commemoration Event" held on the 21st at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul.

On this day, a caregiver of a dementia patient said through a video, "My husband had been desperate to hide the fact that he had dementia," and continued, "Because the perception of dementia is so negative, my husband, who became a dementia patient, and I became isolated." She emphasized, "Beyond isolation, the interest and care of neighbors and society are needed."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare awarded individuals and organizations who contributed to the development of dementia policies and quietly practiced care beside dementia patients with the National Medal (1 award), Presidential Citation (4 awards), and Prime Minister Citation (7 awards).

Jung Sung-woo, Director of the Incheon Metropolitan City Dementia Center, received the National Medal. As a neurologist, Director Jung was recognized for his professional diagnosis and treatment of dementia patients with various underlying diseases and for his contribution to improving the quality of dementia management projects.

Lee Jung-woo, Director of the Bundang Senior Welfare Center and a recipient of the Presidential Citation, was evaluated as having contributed to dementia prevention by establishing a project foundation for healthy lifestyle practices to prevent dementia and professionally promoting dementia management projects.

At this event, awards were also presented to the family of a dementia patient whose essay was selected as the grand prize in the '2023 Dementia Overcoming Hope Essay Contest,' individuals and organizations who won the grand prize at the '2023 Excellent Dementia Partner Activity Competition,' companies that supported dementia management projects, and institutions that received excellent evaluations in dementia project management.

Awards were also given to SK Hynix, which helped with the dementia missing persons project, and institutions that received excellent evaluations in dementia project management. SK Hynix, which received the Minister of Health and Welfare’s Special Award, has supported the distribution of wandering detection devices funded by donations from company employees since 2017. From 2017 to 2022, SK Hynix distributed a total of 21,560 wristwatch-type wandering detection devices.