Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

Seoul district trains subway workers to protect seniors with dementia

koreatimes.co.kr · 6dShare

Inside one station in Seoul’s sprawling underground transit system, station workers and retail clerks are being trained to spot and assist disoriented elderly passengers, part of a new municipal initiative to address Korea's rapidly expanding dementia population. Songpa District in southeastern Seoul has transformed its busiest subway hubs into a localized safety net for elderly commuters with dementia. The district launched the Songpa Metro-Care program, marking the first time a municipal district in the capital has integrated public transportation hubs into its official dementia care network. The initiative addresses a growing urban safety challenge. As Korea accelerates into a super-aged society, public health authorities estimate that the national dementia population among those 65 and older will exceed 1 million for the first time this year. With wandering episodes posing life-threatening risks in high-density urban corridors, officials are recognizing that medical centers alone a

First report: Seoul district uses subway station to protect seniors with dementia — koreatimes.co.kr, 7d