Seocho Cooling Center Opens for Seniors with Dementia and Their Families
A Safe and Comfortable Space for Rest, Cognitive Stimulation, and Emotional Healing
Participatory Programs and Digital Experiences Available Throughout the Summer
Seocho-gu, Seoul, will operate the 'Seocho Cooling Center' for six weeks from July 14 to August 22, providing a cool respite for seniors with dementia and their families during the hot summer months.
The 'Seocho Cooling Center' is a multi-purpose rest area created by utilizing the Anshim House space within the Seocho-gu Dementia Relief Center. It was introduced last year as the first of its kind in Seoul to prevent dementia and support caregiving during heat waves. Any dementia patient or family residing in Seocho-gu can use the facility free of charge. Last year, the center was recognized as a model case by winning the grand prize at the Seoul Dementia Management Project Competition, and 583 seniors with dementia and their families used the center, reporting high satisfaction.
This year as well, the district has prepared a safe space equipped with cognitive stimulation, emotional recovery, and relaxation content, so that seniors with dementia can stay comfortably and pleasantly. The center features an open structure that allows any user to visit freely, and plans to realize both dementia prevention and family caregiving through a variety of participatory programs.
The center consists of several areas, including 'Shade Cinema', where visitors can watch movies and share their impressions; 'Self Cafe', where they can enjoy a self-serve cafe experience; and 'Mind Rest Lounge', where massage chairs and books are available for relaxation.
In addition, the 'Smart Memory Playground', designed to improve cognitive function, offers activities that stimulate the brain using AI care robots, smart mirror devices, and cognitive workbooks, providing a range of digital experiences for seniors.
Programs for emotional recovery and healing for the families of dementia patients are also available. Customized programs such as 'Hope Diary' and 'Self-Care Gram Book' will provide education on understanding dementia, emotional healing, and self-care. These programs will be held a total of eight times through advance registration.
The Anshim House at Seocho-gu Dementia Relief Center is a customized model home designed to help dementia patients live safely at home, and it opened in 2017 as the first of its kind in the country. Since then, it has provided one-on-one daily living support and cognitive enhancement programs for dementia patients.
Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Sungsoo stated, "The Seocho Cooling Center is Seocho-gu's unique care model that helps seniors with dementia and their families continue their daily lives with peace of mind, even during the hot summer. As a leading district in dementia management, we will continue to take the initiative in dementia prevention and family support."
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