Incheon City Operates Cinema for Dementia Families... Introducing Advanced Care Techniques in Nursing Institutions

Nation's First, Free Screenings at Incheon Mirim Theater from March to November
Trainer Training for Introducing 'Humanitude' Care
Care Manager Training and Operation of Forest and Agricultural Healing Programs

National One Heart Dementia Overcoming Walking Event held at Michuhol Park, Incheon. April 13, 2019.
Photo by Incheon City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is accelerating efforts to create an environment where dementia patients can live together by operating the nation's first dementia-friendly cinema and introducing advanced care techniques in public nursing institutions.

On the 5th, the city announced that in line with the government's 4th National Dementia Management Comprehensive Plan (2021?2025), it will shift the medical perspective on dementia to focus on dementia patients and their families, discovering and promoting new projects to ensure their thoughts and lives are respected.

First, the city plans to operate a dementia family cinema where dementia patients and their families can safely enjoy movies together. This dementia family cinema is known to be the first of its kind nationwide.

From March to November, on the last Wednesday of each month, dementia-related films will be screened free of charge at the Incheon Mirim Theater, a silver cinema. The city will select and screen films that dementia patients and their families can enjoy together to prevent cultural and leisure activities from being interrupted due to dementia symptoms.

Additionally, job opportunities for cinema staff will be provided to early-onset dementia patients under 65 years old so they can play an active role as proud members of society.

For early-onset dementia patients, various programs such as a book caf?, brain health experience center, and cognitive enhancement programs are being conducted at the 'Brain Tok Tok! Brain Health School,' which opened in Michuhol-gu in 2018.

Incheon City 'Brain Tok Tok' Brain Health School
[Photo by Incheon City]

The city will also train smart care managers linked to new middle-aged job projects to manage home-based dementia patients and address care gaps during the COVID-19 era. Alongside this, outdoor healing programs such as forest (forest experience) and agricultural (Ullulala Healing Farm) therapies will be operated to help prevent and manage dementia and relieve family stress and caregiving burdens.

Starting in the second half of this year, the city plans to introduce 'Humanitude' care, an advanced care technique for dementia patients, into public nursing institutions.

Humanitude, meaning 'humanity' in French, is a care method based on humane respect rather than forcibly restraining the bodies of dementia patients, with over 400 care manuals. The city has signed an international business agreement with the French IGM headquarters and will train trainers to learn and disseminate Humanitude care.

In addition, the city conducts Cognitive Impairment Screening Tests (CIST) for early detection of dementia among citizens aged 60 and over, and supports free neuropsychological testing if dementia is suspected.

To provide specialized intensive treatment for dementia patients and reduce the burden on their families, the city plans to increase the dementia-specialized ward beds at the Gyeyang-gu 2nd Municipal Elderly Dementia Nursing Hospital from 139 to 187 beds within this year, and is also promoting the construction of a public dementia-specialized elderly nursing facility.

An Incheon city official stated, "This year, while supplementing dementia management projects that were insufficient due to the COVID-19 situation, we plan to promote new projects to create a dementia-friendly community in line with the 4th National Plan to complete the national responsibility system for dementia."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.