Incheon Songdo 1-dong Designated as Dementia Safe Village... Yeonsu-gu "Ensuring Representation as the First New Town"

Designated as the 8th Safest Village with the Most in Incheon
Differentiated Projects Including Dementia-Safe Parks and Libraries

On the 23rd, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon announced that Songdo 1-dong will be additionally designated as a Dementia Safe Village, the first in the new town area.

The Dementia Safe Village project aims to create a dementia-friendly environment where residents can live with peace of mind based on a correct understanding of dementia. Songdo 1-dong is the eighth area designated within the district. Since 2019, the district has designated seven areas including Seonhak-dong, Cheonghak-dong, Yeonsu 2·3-dong, Dongchun 2·3-dong, and Ongnyeon 1-dong, making it the area with the most Dementia Safe Villages in Incheon.

Songdo 1-dong, among the five new town neighborhoods where half of Yeonsu-gu residents live, has the highest population of seniors aged 65 and over. Related work has been carried out through the Songdo Regional Dementia Safety Center within the Songdo Health Living Support Center.

Going forward, a 'Dementia Safe Apartment' project reflecting the apartment-centered residential pattern will be promoted, aiming to establish a dementia-safe environment within complexes and operate dementia prevention education and related programs. In particular, differentiated projects such as creating a Dementia Safe Park, installing a Dementia Safe Library, operating a Dementia Safe Patrol System, and establishing an ICT Experience Zone will be pursued.

Incheon Yeonsu-gu has been operating seven Dementia Safe Villages, starting with Seonhak-dong in 2019, followed by Cheonghak-dong, Yeonsu 2·3-dong, Dongchun 2·3-dong, and Okryeon 1-dong.
[Photo by Incheon Yeonsu-gu]

Since 2018, Yeonsu-gu has installed the Songdo Regional Dementia Safety Center at the Songdo Health Living Support Center to create a worry-free city for dementia. Through 2,582 early screenings, hidden high-risk groups and dementia patients have been identified and managed. Additionally, various programs such as Youth Dementia Prevention Classes, Cognitive Enhancement Classes, Family Classes, and Healing Programs are operated to create an environment where both dementia patients and their families can live comfortably.

Before designating Songdo 1-dong as a Dementia Safe Village, Yeonsu-gu plans to form a Dementia Safe Village Operation Committee to gather residents' opinions. In October, a Dementia Safe Village proclamation ceremony and the unveiling of the Dementia Safe Park will be held, providing a symbolic occasion to foster a dementia-friendly environment together with residents.

Furthermore, for the seven already designated Dementia Safe Villages, detailed dementia safety measures will be implemented, including age-specific dementia prevention classes, cognitive health programs, training and drills on manuals for responding to wandering dementia patients, and dementia awareness improvement campaigns.

Lee Jae-ho, Mayor of Yeonsu-gu, stated, "We have designated Dementia Safe Villages considering various conditions such as the population of seniors aged 65 and over and accessibility by neighborhood. As the new town population surpassed that of the old town last year, we have been preparing to designate Songdo-dong as a Dementia Safe Village. Since this is the first Dementia Safe City designated in the new town, we will do our best to ensure it represents the area well."

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