Songpa-gu Helps Prevent Dementia Through Forest Healing

Customized Forest Healing Program Operated at Songpa-gu Dementia Safety Center Until October This Year
Various Forest Experience Activities Including Nature Observation, Trail Walks, and Crafting
Dementia Patients Improve Cognitive Abilities, Caregivers Relieve Stress

Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) will operate a customized forest healing program for dementia patients and their caregivers starting this year.

This program is conducted through a public-private partnership with the Korea Forest Ecology Leaders Association. By stimulating the five senses through forests and forest healing factors, it aims to prevent dementia by improving memory, enhancing cognitive abilities, relieving depression, and promoting mental and physical health, providing patients and their families with an opportunity to recover both body and mind.

In fact, according to an announcement by the Korea Forest Service in February, 'garden healing' activities increased blood flow by 8.7% in patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, showing that garden healing helps maintain or improve cognitive function.

Accordingly, the district will carry out the '2024 Green Memory Care' project at the Songpa-gu Dementia Safety Center. The program targets dementia patients and their caregivers who use the center and will be operated in 18 sessions until October this year.

The education is conducted together with forest experience education experts and occupational therapists, engaging in various activities in urban forests within Seoul to help improve cognitive function, memory, and physical recovery. Activities include ▲walking along trails and observing nature ▲tactile experiences by touching and smelling trees, fruits, and leaves ▲making frames with Scandia moss (natural moss) ▲flower mosaic activities, among others.

In addition, through the center, the district provides various programs such as dementia counseling and registration, early screening, dementia prevention education and awareness improvement, resource strengthening, and cognitive programs to ensure that all Songpa-gu residents can enjoy a healthy old age without worries about dementia.

For further inquiries, please visit the center or contact them by phone.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Going forward, Songpa-gu will actively discover dementia support projects by collaborating with various resources in line with the aging era so that all residents can enjoy a healthy and happy life.”