The Michuhol Senior Employment Development Center (Director Kim Tae-hwa, hereinafter "the center") has completed dementia screening for 541 seniors taking part in its public-interest senior activities this year. The center said on Oct. 8 that it conducted the screenings in five rounds from May through October.
 [The Korean Today] Dementia screening for seniors participating in senior job programs © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The screening was carried out as part of the health management support program under the "2026 Senior Employment and Social Activity Support Project," which is run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged. Working with the Michuhol-gu Dementia Relief Center, the center checked the cognitive health of participating seniors, with the aim of identifying early on those who need further testing.
By round, 232 seniors were screened over two days on May 12 and 13. That was followed by 84 participants on Sept. 10 and 105 on Sept. 16, while 120 were screened in the most recent round on Oct. 7. In total, 541 seniors were included in this year's screening.
The center also worked to make participation more convenient. It adjusted locations and schedules so that seniors could be screened without burden at facilities they regularly use. Seniors who underwent screening were credited with three hours of senior job activity time, ensuring that time spent on health care would not count against their work activity.
Regular cognitive health checks are significant because the earlier dementia is detected, the wider the range of possible responses. In particular, since seniors in job programs gather at set activity sites, linking employment programs with health management can improve accessibility, and the initiative is seen as an effort to expand the health safety net for local seniors.
"Senior jobs are meaningful not merely as a chance to work, but in helping seniors maintain healthy daily lives and participate actively as members of the local community," Director Kim Tae-hwa said. "We will continue to pay attention to the health and daily lives of each and every senior, and pursue a range of linked programs with the local community so that they can receive the health support they need in a timely manner."
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
Become a Local Ambassador Apply as Branch Director The Korean Today — Nam-Incheon
 |
<저작권자 ⓒ 코리안투데이(The Korean Today) 무단전재 및 재배포 금지>
