Nowon-gu Supports Korean Medicine Treatment for Dementia Prevention in Seniors

120 High-Risk Dementia Seniors Aged 60+ Selected... Full Coverage of Korean Medicine Treatment Fees Including Chongmyeongchim Procedure and Herbal Prescriptions Through Designated Korean Medicine Clinics

Pulse Diagnosis for the Elderly

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is helping high-risk elderly citizens with dementia concerns to enjoy a healthy old age through support for traditional Korean medicine treatment.

As society rapidly ages, the population with dementia, an age-related disease, continues to increase, and the associated social costs have become a serious social issue.

In particular, Nowon-gu, which has a high proportion of elderly residents, had the highest number of dementia patients aged 65 and over in Seoul’s districts as of 2019, with 8,891 dementia patients and an estimated 7,730 patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Accordingly, the district is implementing the ‘Elderly Traditional Korean Medicine Health Promotion Project’ to delay the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia through standardized traditional Korean medical methods.

According to the '2020 Seoul Elderly Health Promotion Project Effectiveness Report,' traditional Korean medical methods such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and qigong exercises have shown significant effects on cognitive impairment.

Moreover, treatments using traditional Korean medicine are preferred by elderly people, which encourages active participation in the program.

The support targets 120 elderly residents aged 60 or older in the area who are diagnosed as high-risk for dementia (mild cognitive impairment) through cognitive function assessments and depression screening tests.

Selected elderly participants receive treatment 1 to 3 times a week at designated Korean medicine clinics near their residence. The treatment includes approximately 12 to 16 sessions of Chungmyeong acupuncture and prescriptions of herbal granules or decoctions, all provided free of charge. However, if blood test results show liver or kidney function levels exceeding the normal range, making herbal medicine administration difficult, herbal prescriptions will be excluded.

In addition, individual education related to dementia and elderly depression is provided to support the mental health of the elderly.

Furthermore, the district operates various projects for dementia prevention and mild dementia treatment for the elderly. First, the Nowon-gu Dementia Safety Center, located on the 5th floor of the district office, conducts memory (dementia) tests for residents aged 60 and over. It operates from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays, and visits require prior telephone reservation. Based on dementia screening results, detailed examinations or customized programs are linked.

Also, for elderly individuals diagnosed with mild dementia who have not applied for long-term care grades or do not have such grades, the ‘Memory Improvement School’ is operated. Classes are held twice a week on weekdays, divided into morning and afternoon sessions, and cognitive rehabilitation programs such as occupational therapy, art therapy, and horticultural therapy help delay dementia progression and alleviate symptoms.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “As the number of elderly dementia patients increases, the mental and economic burdens on families and society are also growing,” adding, “We will spare no effort to provide all support from dementia prevention to treatment to improve the quality of life for the elderly and their families.”

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