Department of Occupational Therapy Attempts Jisanhak Workshop in Busan
Comprehensive Overview of Japan's 'Kaigo Prevention Project' Program Cases
A research group dedicated to caring for and preventing ‘swallowing disorders’?conditions that make it difficult to swallow food, medicine, or even a sip of water?is drawing attention.
The Swallowing Disorder Care Project Group at Dongseo University (President Jang Jeguk) announced on the 5th that it recently held an industry-academia workshop at Busan Lotte Hotel as part of the ongoing Busan Technopark Community Win-Win Cooperation Support Project.
The project currently being promoted by the group is titled ‘Tear, Chew, Taste, and Share the Flavor and Joy of Life with Seniors in Busan.’
This event featured Dr. Sun Woo-deok, former researcher at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and one of the architects of Korea’s Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly. The discussion focused on the current status of community-based swallowing disorder prevention projects in Japan and explored strategies for Busan to address similar issues.
Participants in the discussion included Professor Nam Heeseong from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Director Guk Minjeong from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Sasang Smart Hospital, Professor Kim Minji from the Department of Dental Hygiene at Dongseo University, Adjunct Professor Park Jisu from the Department of Occupational Therapy at Dongseo University, Busan City Council member Kim Changseok, Policy Support Officer Kwon Juyeong, and Ph.D. candidates from the Graduate School of Occupational Therapy at Dongseo University. They addressed strategies and solutions for resolving swallowing disorders among the elderly.
Dr. Sun Woo-deok stated, “If we adapt the successful model of Japan’s swallowing disorder prevention project to fit Korea’s circumstances, it could become an effective solution for managing swallowing disorders caused by Busan’s aging population.”
Although the term ‘geriatric swallowing disorder’ is still relatively unfamiliar in Korea, it has been a significant social issue in Japan?where aging began earlier?for over a decade. To curb the exponentially increasing prevalence of swallowing disorders, Japanese communities initiated these projects as part of their long-term care prevention efforts.
The swallowing disorder prevention project, which began in Kochi Prefecture in southern Shikoku, Japan, later spread nationwide and became a successful case in reducing and preventing the incidence of swallowing disorders among the elderly. The project group’s initiative to launch a prevention project in Korea for the first time is attracting attention.
Yoon Taehyeong, head of the project group (professor of occupational therapy), explained, “We will strive to make this project a model that can spread nationwide from Busan. Not only will we address local health and medical issues in Busan, but we will also conduct joint research with REIWA University in Japan to establish a model that benefits both undergraduate and graduate students.”
Hwang Kihyun, head of the Dongseo University Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation, emphasized, “To solve the aging problem in Busan, we will actively utilize our university’s human and material resources in the health and medical fields to ensure the success of this community-contributing project.”
Dongseo University (President Jang Jeguk) Swallowing Disorder Care Project Group is conducting a regional industry-academia workshop at Busan Lotte Hotel.
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