Busan Senior Hospital No. 4, Designated as Busan's First Dementia-Safe Hospital, What is Its Location and Role?
Busan Senior Hospital No. 4, located in Saha-gu, Busan, has been selected as Busan's first dementia-safe hospital.
This designation is very positive news for dementia patients and their families in Busan, where rapid aging is occurring, and it is expected to have a significant impact on the medical and welfare sectors of the local community.
What is a Dementia-Safe Hospital?
A dementia-safe hospital is a specialized medical institution certified under Article 16-4 of the 「Dementia Management Act」, equipped with facilities and personnel capable of systematically providing diagnosis, treatment, and caregiving services related to dementia.
This system was introduced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2019 and is operated nationwide, with the recent addition of Busan Senior Hospital No. 4, bringing the total number of designated facilities to 24. This marks the first case of a dementia-safe hospital designated in Busan.
Background and Significance of the Designation of Busan Senior Hospital No. 4
The city of Busan has been conducting ongoing function enhancement projects for the designation of dementia specialty hospitals since last year. With the support of administrative consultations with hospital officials, it completed a local inspection by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in January 2025, and the official designation was achieved on March 31.
This hospital has been operating a dedicated ward for dementia patients since its opening in 2014, and starting from September 2024, it will be operated under a five-year consignment contract with the 'Happy Medical Foundation'. Notably, this designation was made possible due to the fulfillment of the personnel, equipment, and facility standards, with 58 beds available in Ward 1. These efforts will greatly contribute to providing better medical services to dementia patients in the local community.
What Treatments and Services Are Provided?
With the designation of Busan Senior Hospital No. 4 as a dementia-safe hospital, it aims to establish tailored treatment strategies for patients and provide more systematic and specialized medical services.
The key element is a comprehensive assessment, which goes beyond simple dementia diagnosis to include cognitive function, behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD), neurological signs, and activities of daily living in a precise diagnosis. Based on these assessments, medication and non-medication treatments, individual and group therapy programs, and family support programs will be conducted.
Moreover, even after patients are discharged, continuous management and care can be conducted in coordination with community-based services and programs. This will not only alleviate the burden on patients but also significantly enhance the overall quality of life for their families.
Where Are Hospitals Operating Dementia Specialized Wards in Busan?
There are four public senior care hospitals in Busan, all of which are equipped with dementia specialized wards. The locations of each hospital are as follows:
The first hospital is located in Buk-gu, Mandeok-dong, the second in Yeonje-gu, Geoje-dong, the third in Haeundae-gu, Woo-dong, and finally, the fourth is situated in Saha-gu, Hadan-dong.
In particular, Busan Senior Hospital No. 4 has been designated as the first dementia-safe hospital in Busan, which likely increases the potential for other hospitals to proceed with designation procedures in the future.
Future Plans of Busan City
The city of Busan stated that it will continue to provide administrative support necessary for the delivery of medical services to dementia patients, taking this designation of a dementia-safe hospital as a turning point. Particularly, as Busan's aging rate exceeds the national average, the importance of public medical care can only be heightened.
The designation of Busan Senior Hospital No. 4 as a dementia-safe hospital is considered not just an achievement of one institution, but an important milestone in Busan's strategy to respond to an aging society. Attention is expected to focus on how Busan's dementia-related policies and infrastructure will develop in the future.
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