Systematic Operation Direction for Dementia Safe Villages and Recognition of Dementia Safe Noriter (老利攄) Program
Model Case of Autonomous District Dementia Safety Center and Health Center Direct Operation for Promoting National Dementia Responsibility System
Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) is home to approximately 118,000 residents aged 60 and over, accounting for 25% of the district's total population. In response, the district is making every effort to create a dementia-friendly environment so that elderly residents can live safely and happily within the community.
As a result, at the 17th Dementia Overcoming Day ceremony in 2024, the ‘Gwanak-gu Public Health Center’ was awarded the ‘Presidential Citation’ in recognition of its systematic operation direction for dementia-safe villages and the excellence of the nation’s first outdoor play-type dementia-safe Noriteo (老利攄) program.
The Gwanak-gu Public Health Center is the only institution nationwide that has directly operated a dementia safety center for over 13 years, becoming a model case for direct operation by public health centers to promote the national dementia responsibility system in 2016, which has since spread across the country.
As part of the 8th term mayor’s campaign promises, the district has been selecting and operating four neighborhoods annually as dementia-safe villages (currently 13 neighborhoods in 2024), considering factors such as elderly population, dementia patients, and resident demand, with the goal of establishing all 21 neighborhoods in Gwanak-gu as dementia-safe villages by 2026.
In particular, in 2023, the district developed a concrete curriculum to expand the social support base quantitatively and improve qualitative operation for the creation of ‘dementia-safe villages,’ presenting a systematic operation direction and running the outdoor play-type specialized program ‘Dementia-safe Noriteo (老利攄)’ to make dementia prevention and management part of daily activities.
As a result, it received the ‘Best Award (Minister of Health and Welfare Award),’ ranking first nationwide at the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Best Practice Competition, being recognized as a ‘desirable direction for local government dementia safety centers.’
‘Dementia-safe Noriteo (老利攄)’ is divided into physical and cognitive activities to enhance various cognitive domains, offering residents different programs weekly at outdoor locations within the safe villages.
Participants expressed high satisfaction, saying, “I was stressed because I couldn’t remember words quickly, but after learning to say words by looking at the initial consonants, I could do it alone at home, which was great,” and “It wasn’t boring like studying; it was an enjoyable experience like playing.”
Additionally, the district is promoting various projects to create the ‘Gang Gam-chan Gwanak Dementia-safe Village’ together with local residents, including ▲building a dementia safety net ▲creating dementia-safe fences ▲training dementia partners ▲designating dementia-safe stores and dementia overcoming leading organizations ▲and providing healing programs for dementia families.
Mayor Park Jun-hee stated, “Dementia is not only an issue for individuals and their families but a challenge that the community must address together,” adding, “The district will continue to raise awareness about the importance of dementia management and do its utmost to create a ‘Dementia-safe Gwanak’ where people can live safely and freely from dementia.”
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