Elderly Dementia Patients Participate in Beverage Preparation and Customer Service
Expected to Enhance Patients' Self-Esteem and Prevent Dementia Symptom Worsening
A 'Green Memory Cafe' for early-onset dementia patients has been established in Dobong-gu.
Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) announced on January 7 that the 'Green Memory Cafe' was opened on the 4th floor of the Dobong-gu Dementia Safety Center (650 Madeul-ro, Dobong-gu).
The 'Green Memory Cafe' is a space that helps alleviate social isolation of early-onset dementia patients and supports them to live within the local community.
Here, early-onset dementia patients receive theoretical and practical training on cafe operations and participate in actual beverage preparation and customer service. The beverages are made using crops previously cultivated by the patients themselves.
The district expects that through these activities, patients will enhance their self-esteem and prevent the worsening of dementia symptoms.
A district official stated, "The various activities here will stimulate patients' memory and concentration, helping to improve brain function."
The cafe operates Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eight early-onset dementia patients, previously selected, are assigned to work at the cafe. One to two patients work each morning and afternoon shift so that each patient can work at least one shift per day.
Use of the cafe is possible with 'coins.' Coins are given to those who have been examined at the center or participated in dementia prevention programs.
Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, "Early-onset dementia occurs before the age of 65 and has relatively fewer safety nets compared to late-onset dementia. The Dobong-gu 'Green Memory Cafe' will strengthen the local support system for early-onset dementia and serve as an opportunity to raise social awareness."
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