Yeonggwang-gun Supports All Residents with 'Dementia Screening and Treatment Management Fees'

Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do is taking the lead in improving the quality of life through early detection and treatment of dementia.

On the 17th, the county announced that it will support dementia screening and treatment management fees to provide Yeonggwang-type integrated dementia management services to residents in response to the entry into a super-aged society.

Dementia Prevention Exercises
Photo by Yeonggwang-gun

The county has been supporting about 500 people who exceed the income threshold with dementia screening and treatment management co-payments to detect dementia early, suppress its progression to severe stages, improve accompanying symptoms through appropriate treatment and management, and reduce the economic burden on patients and their families.

Although cognitive screening and diagnostic tests can be received free of charge at the Dementia Safety Center, those exceeding the income threshold were unable to receive dementia screening tests due to cost burdens even after being diagnosed with dementia, resulting in delayed treatment at the appropriate time.

After consultations with the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the establishment of social security systems, since January last year, the county has supported examination fees up to a limit of 80,000 KRW for those requiring screening regardless of income, by referring them to partner hospitals for MRI, CT, blood tests, and other examinations.

For dementia patients registered at the Dementia Safety Center, the county has supported up to 30,000 KRW per month and 360,000 KRW annually for consultation fees and dementia medication co-payments.

A health center official stated, “Since dementia can be suppressed from becoming severe if detected and treated early, we will actively promote dementia screening and treatment management projects to establish a Yeonggwang-type care system.”

For more details, please contact the Yeonggwang-gun Dementia Safety Center.

Yeonggwang = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Lee Jeonseong baekok@asiae.co.kr

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