Seoul district uses subway station to protect seniors with dementia

Inside one subway station in Seoul, district workers and shopkeepers are being trained to identify and help elderly passengers who become disoriented, as part of a new city program to tackle the rapidly growing dementia population in Korea. Songpa District, located in southeastern Seoul, has converted its busiest subway stations into a local safety system for senior citizens with dementia.

The district recently launched the Songpa Metro-Care initiative, marking the first time a municipal district in the capital has incorporated public transportation stations into its official dementia care network. This program addresses a growing urban safety issue. As Korea transitions into a super-aged society, public health authorities estimate that the national dementia population among those aged 65 and older will surpass 1 million this year.

With wandering episodes posing life-threatening risks in densely populated urban areas, officials recognize that medical centers alone are insufficient. They aim to provide peace of mind for dementia patients and their families.