Naju City Appoints '100-Year Care Managers'... Dispatched to Senior Centers

Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 8th that it held a commissioning ceremony for the ‘100-Year Care Managers’ to promote integrated dementia care services at the city hall’s Ihwa Room on the 7th.

The care managers commissioned this time consist of 38 individuals holding qualifications related to elderly care and welfare.

They will be dispatched to the 100-Year Safe Senior Centers, which are at the forefront of dementia management, to identify dementia blind spots that administrative efforts have not reached and provide demand-responsive care services.

Naju City appointed 38 "100-Year Care Managers."
[Photo by Naju City]

These senior centers are designated and operated in 180 village senior centers with a high proportion of residents aged 60 and over who are at high risk of dementia (172 rural type, 8 urban type).

Ten care recipients are selected per center, providing care programs to a total of about 1,800 people.

The care managers visit the Safe Senior Centers weekly to conduct customized cognitive enhancement programs for each recipient. The programs involve not only patients but also their families and residents to form a dementia-friendly community.

They also visit the homes of dementia patients once a month to check on signs and well-being, contributing to early dementia prevention.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “Prevention is the top priority for dementia, but it is also important that the condition does not worsen once it occurs,” adding, “We expect the care managers to actively fulfill their mission and role so that dementia patients’ symptoms do not deteriorate further and they can enjoy a healthy and joyful old age.”

Meanwhile, according to statistics from the Public Health Center’s Dementia Safety Center, as of May this year, the population aged 60 and over in Naju City is 37,737, accounting for 32.2% of the total population (117,072).

Since the launch of the 8th municipal government, the city has been conducting a full dementia survey for citizens aged 60 and over to proactively prevent dementia. Through this, residents in dementia care blind spots are identified and provided with dementia care services covering tracking, diagnosis, and treatment.

Various dementia management programs are also operated, including cognitive enhancement programs for early, mild, and severe patients, self-help groups for the emotional stability of patients’ families, and dementia awareness improvement activities.

Dementia patients receive support for medication costs up to 30,000 KRW per month (360,000 KRW annually) and six types of care supplies such as knee braces, anti-slip socks, and diapers twice a year, alleviating their economic burden.

For dementia-related inquiries, contact the Naju City Dementia Safety Center or the Dementia Counseling Call Center.

Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr

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