Supporting Dementia Patients: The 'Dementia Safety Lantern' Initiative
While browsing the Jincheon County website, I stumbled upon a notice introducing the 'Dementia Safety Lantern' franchise stores. Curious if these were shops for dementia patients, I read the announcement carefully.
* Dementia Safety Lantern (Franchise Store)
These are local shops or institutions that assist dementia patients in safely conducting their daily lives and actively participate in helping wandering patients return quickly to their families.
The Jincheon County Dementia Safety Lantern project is part of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's national responsibility for dementia, aimed at creating a dementia-friendly environment through dementia safety centers across the country. The goal is to establish a safety net for dementia patients, allowing them to live their daily lives with confidence, supported by the community and its residents. If a wandering dementia patient is found, temporary protection can be provided at the nearest Dementia Safety Lantern franchise, where the store owner will help ensure the patient safely returns to their family.
A few days later, while buying bread at Paris Baguette in Jincheon, I noticed a 'Dementia Safety Lantern' sign. It was a sign I hadn't paid attention to before, but since I had seen information about it on the Jincheon County website, it stood out more to me. It warmed my heart to feel that our community is working together to protect elderly individuals who may be lost or in need of assistance due to dementia.
After that, I also found a Dementia Safety Lantern sign at the Peace Pharmacy in Jincheon and at Tous Les Jours on the way to Jincheon Central Hospital. It was reassuring to realize that there are Dementia Safety Lanterns operating in various places around us. If you encounter an elderly person with dementia in need of help, don't panic; be sure to look for the nearest Dementia Safety Lantern franchise! They can assist with the protection and reporting procedures for dementia patients.
Dementia Safety Lantern franchise stores can be found not only in Jincheon but also in Deoksan, Gwanghye-won, Iwol, Chopyeong, and Baekgok. I happened to stop by the Iwol bus terminal and found a 'Dementia Safety Lantern' sign at a nearby hair salon called 'Here is Hair Shop.' It was fascinating to see a sign that I usually wouldn’t notice become more apparent due to my newfound interest. This made me realize that I should pay more attention to the area where I live.
As of July 1, 2026, there are currently 51 Dementia Safety Lantern franchise stores operating in Jincheon County. While this number is not small, it is somewhat disappointing that the stores are mainly concentrated in Jincheon. I hope that interest in dementia will grow, leading to an expansion of Dementia Safety Lantern franchise registrations so that elderly individuals with dementia can live safely and confidently.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/jincheongun/224359337246
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