Jangjin County has announced the establishment of a dedicated health center for the elderly, prioritizing comprehensive health management for seniors, addressing chronic conditions, dementia, depression, and other issues. This initiative comes as part of the county's organizational restructuring for 2024, where the existing health center will now incorporate a new section specifically catering to the health needs of seniors.
The newly introduced section, named the 'Elderly Health Division,' aims to proactively address health concerns related to the aging population, as over 38% of Jangjin's residents are aged 65 or older, making it an exceptionally aged region in the Honam area. Recognizing the increasing demand for health services due to aging, the division will focus on issues such as chronic diseases, depression, and dementia.
According to the Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Jangjin County has a lower depression experience rate compared to the national average and a higher rate than the average in Jeollanam-do. The county also exhibits a higher diagnosis rate for hypertension compared to the national and provincial averages.
In response to these health indicators, the Elderly Health Division has organized three teams: the Chronic Disease Management Team, Mental Health Team, and Dementia Management Team. These teams will engage in various initiatives aimed at enhancing the health security of residents, ranging from prevention to management.
The Chronic Disease Management Team will implement projects such as preventive management of cerebrovascular diseases, home visit health management, AI and IoT-based health management for seniors, health checkups at village community centers, operation of mobile physical therapy buses, community-based rehabilitation projects, and support for medical expenses related to elderly eye and knee joint diseases.
The Mental Health Team will focus on suicide prevention for the elderly, screening for depression, financial support for the treatment of mental disorders, and awareness improvement events and campaigns.
The Dementia Management Team will carry out activities such as early screening for dementia, dementia prevention classes, financial support for dementia treatment, and the operation of dementia relief centers and villages.
One notable feature of the initiative is the introduction of a mobile physical therapy bus, which will directly reach elderly individuals with limited mobility, providing physical therapy and health counseling. The service aims to expand operations from 161 locations in 2023 to 180 locations in 2024, contributing to the continuous improvement of medical services for seniors.
The Elderly Health Division emphasizes that it will actively gather opinions from vulnerable elderly individuals, chronic disease patients, and dementia patients to continually refine its programs and ensure they align with the needs of the elderly population in Jangjin County.
Mayor Kang Jin-won expressed, "Aging is inevitable, but we can prevent the hardships that come with aging. By establishing the Elderly Health Division, we aim to empower seniors, enhance their health management abilities, and provide proactive and comprehensive public health and medical services."
This initiative reflects Jangjin County's commitment to promoting the well-being of its elderly residents and sets a precedent for prioritizing the unique health needs of aging populations in the region.