Goyang City Realizes Healthy Aging Through Daily Life Care
Promoting “Senior Health Primary Care Physician” with Visiting Oriental Medicine Services
Providing Tailored Support Based on Cognitive Health Status of Seniors
Operating Specialized Daily Life-Oriented Programs such as “Strong Grandpa Club”
Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) is vigorously promoting age-friendly city policies to ensure that local seniors can enjoy a healthy and dignified life in their own communities, making daily life a foundation for care.
Elderly patients receiving treatment as part of the "Senior Health Primary Care" program. Provided by Goyang Special City
At the 2025 Goyang Healthy City Forum held in November, there was extensive discussion on policy directions for healthy cities in response to a super-aged society. Community-based health management, such as “timely access to health, medical, and care services close to home,” was identified as a key task for enhancing urban resilience.
The city approaches complex health issues of old age, such as chronic diseases and cognitive health, not as isolated projects but as integrated, community-based services. It is establishing a personalized management system that provides care for citizens in their homes, senior centers, and care facilities.
“Senior Health Primary Care Physician” and “Visiting Home Hospital” Programs... Strengthening Public and Private Medical Services
Goyang City identifies health-vulnerable groups in need of integrated care and implements customized home-visit health management programs. By connecting various community resources, the city provides public medical, health, and welfare services.
The “Senior Health Primary Care Physician” program aims to improve the health of seniors aged 65 and older with limited access to medical care. Professional staff, including Oriental medicine doctors from the Goyang Oriental Medicine Association and public health center visiting nurses, visit senior centers to provide basic health checks, pulse diagnosis, acupuncture, and other health management services. The program also offers health education, such as fall prevention and methods for preventing and managing musculoskeletal disorders in the elderly.
This year, the program visited 39 senior centers and welfare facilities 250 times, providing Oriental medicine treatment to a total of 3,819 people. It has offered practical support for pain management and daily recovery for seniors with chronic illnesses, while also focusing on empowering them to manage their own health sustainably.
Additionally, the city operates the “Visiting Home Hospital” for health-vulnerable groups requiring integrated care. Currently, 110 people, including seniors aged 65 and older with chronic diseases, are receiving support. The program is linked with six general hospitals and administrative welfare centers in the region to develop individualized care plans for each patient and provide comprehensive health and medical services.
Dementia Prevention Theater Healing Performance 'Lalala Youth Theater'. Provided by Goyang Special City
From Prevention to Screening and Management... Efforts to Create a Dementia-Safe Environment
The Goyang Dementia Relief Center conducts life-stage tailored “dementia prevention and management services” by regularly visiting senior centers, welfare centers, and dementia-safe villages to check the cognitive health status of elderly residents in the community.
If cognitive decline is suspected through dementia screening tests and geriatric depression scales, individuals are referred to diagnostic staff. If further neurocognitive tests suggest possible dementia, they are connected to partner hospitals for a third-stage in-depth examination.
In addition, the city invited professional instructors for cognitive training programs in horticulture, exercise, and art. As of the end of November, it had run 309 dementia prevention classes, 92 cognitive enhancement classes, 233 dementia patient respite sessions, and 314 family classes for dementia patients.
In particular, as part of an integrated health management program for dementia prevention, the “Goyang Happiness Senior Center Health Academy” was launched, offering cognitive training, physical activities, and laughter therapy. In collaboration with the Korea Association of Drama Therapy, the city staged the dementia prevention theater healing performance “Lalala Youth Theater,” helping seniors relieve depression and regain social roles. Additionally, for those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, the “Memory Planting Puppy Garden” program combined animal-assisted therapy and horticultural therapy.
This year, the “Brainvely Bus” (Dementia Relief Bus) operated 15 times, visiting transportation blind spots with high elderly populations and limited access to the Dementia Relief Center, providing free early dementia screening, preventive education, and counseling.
On-Site Health Checks with the “Exercise Counseling Service on Wheels,” and Multiple Programs to Prevent Elderly Diseases
From June to July, the “Exercise Counseling Service on Wheels” was offered for health-vulnerable seniors. Designed to provide practical help for seniors struggling with daily health management, the program visited 12 senior centers to deliver personalized health consultations and exercise prescription services.
In connection with the existing “Visiting Health Counseling Center,” the program checked basic health indicators such as blood pressure and blood sugar. Through body composition analysis and one-on-one exercise consultations, it provided individualized exercise prescriptions. In addition, customized exercise classes were held to improve muscle strength, balance, physical fitness, and overall health.
The city’s public health center has operated various daily life-oriented programs to establish a senior health management system. Programs such as “Strong Grandpa Club” and “Youth Boxing 60 Plus” targeted men, who previously had lower participation rates, to improve physical function and prevent chronic diseases.
Other programs, such as “Youth 88,” which helps develop muscle and balance to prevent age-related diseases, and “Strong Bones for 100 Years,” a customized exercise class for osteoporosis prevention and bone density improvement, support seniors in practicing regular healthy habits for a healthier old age.
A Goyang City official stated, “We will strengthen the community-based safety net by connecting local resources and integrating necessary services,” adding, “We will continue our efforts to provide comprehensive care by establishing a health and medical system with no blind spots.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
