Gwangju Seo-gu Recognized for Excellence in Dementia Policy... Wins Awards in 3 Categories

Published 25 Sep.2023 13:47(KST)

Various dementia policies managed by Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Seo-gu Mayor Kim Ikang) are gaining attention as exemplary cases.

Seo-gu announced on the 25th that it was selected for excellence awards in two categories at the ‘Dementia Awareness Improvement Project Contest’ hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and won the grand prize at the ‘Public-Private Cooperation Project Excellence Contest’ hosted by the Gwangju Metropolitan City Dementia Center.

On the occasion of the ‘16th Dementia Overcoming Day,’ Seo-gu achieved a double crown by winning excellence awards in both the ▲National Excellent Dementia Partner Activity Group category and the ▲National Dementia Overcoming Hope Video category at the Ministry of Health and Welfare contest.

Seogu-gu's various dementia policies are being recognized as exemplary cases. <br>[Photo by Seogu-gu]

Seogu-gu's various dementia policies are being recognized as exemplary cases.
[Photo by Seogu-gu]

Seo-gu received high evaluations for ▲providing professional and continuous care activities to dementia patients through the dementia-specialized volunteer group ‘Parangsae Messenger,’ playing a leading role in dementia-related volunteer activities, and ▲the dementia prevention center staff directly directing and starring in a skit-style video that easily and entertainingly conveyed the 3.3.3 dementia prevention rules, inducing a positive experience regarding dementia prevention.

In addition, through the dementia-specialized volunteer group ‘Parangsae Messenger,’ Seo-gu provides dementia patient protection and cognitive rehabilitation activities as ‘family comma care’ and ‘companionship’ once or twice a week to the homes of elderly dementia patients.

Through self-help groups for dementia partner activities, they share volunteer activity contents and cases, further strengthening mutual cooperation among volunteer groups.

Since 2021, they have secured expertise through four training sessions and two to three refresher courses annually, continuously meeting the same subjects and conducting regular activities for three years.

Furthermore, in the contest hosted by the Gwangju Metropolitan City Dementia Center, Seo-gu was honored with the grand prize for establishing a systematic dementia care cooperation system through organic cooperation and linkage with related organizations in the local community to overcome dementia.

In particular, Seo-gu is strengthening customized services for recipients by discovering various local resources, such as ▲supporting dementia prevention and elderly job activities using ICT technology, ▲producing various dementia awareness improvement videos in cooperation with the Seo-gu Sports Council and Gwangdeok High School, and ▲providing services for dementia elderly and families in care blind spots.

Kim Ikang, Seo-gu Mayor, said, “The three awards in the field of dementia prevention are meaningful achievements made through the joint efforts of the dementia-specialized volunteer group and staff,” and added, “We will continue to strengthen the community-centered support system through cooperation with related organizations and do our best to create a happy Seo-gu where it is good to live even with dementia.”