Gijang County in Busan Launches Forest Healing Program to Support Dementia Prevention and Emotional Stability

In Collaboration with Busan Healing Forest, Eight Sessions Each in the First and Second Half of the Year
Free Dementia Screening Available Year-Round

Gijang County (Governor Jeong Jongbok) announced on March 3 that it will operate a forest healing program to help prevent dementia, promote emotional stability, and improve physical health.

This program will be conducted from March at Busan Healing Forest, located in Cheolma-myeon, in cooperation with local welfare centers. Groups will be formed of about 10 county residents who have been determined to be in the normal group based on the results of the dementia cognitive screening test. The program will run a total of 16 sessions, with 8 sessions each in the first half (March to May) and the second half (September to November) of the year.

Now in its fourth year, the project has received high praise, with participants wishing to rejoin every year. Under the guidance of professional forest healing instructors, the program includes a variety of nature-based healing activities: walking and meditating in the forest, forest interpretation, health tea therapy, and making natural aroma oil diffusers.

An official from the Gijang County Dementia Relief Center said, "The natural environment plays a significant role in preventing dementia by maintaining and enhancing cognitive function and promoting emotional stability. We will continue to identify and operate dementia prevention programs that utilize local resources."

The Gijang County Dementia Relief Center provides free dementia screening year-round to help detect dementia early and support healthy aging for county residents. Any Gijang County resident aged 60 or older who has not been diagnosed with dementia is eligible for the test. For more information, please contact the center.