The Seoul Central Park and Leisure Center announced on the 21st that it will operate a forest healing program called “Memory Forest Walk” at Namsan Park to prevent dementia and promote emotional stability and physical health for the elderly.
“Memory Forest Walk,” which initially began as a pilot in October 2021, has been officially implemented since 2022, targeting elderly individuals at high risk for dementia, those with dementia, and their caregiving families. Participants accompany a forest guide and a dementia safety center occupational therapist to experience nature and engage in garden culture activities using all five senses.
The city of Seoul explained that this program effectively alleviates social isolation and depression among the elderly, while maintaining physical and cognitive functions. In 2024, a pre- and post-evaluation of seven high-risk elderly participants at the Jung-gu Dementia Safety Center showed an average cognitive screening test score increase of 2.6 points and a depression assessment score decrease of 0.8 points.
One participant stated, “I felt the improvement to the extent that I could participate in the walk without a mobility aid.” Seoul plans to continue verifying the program’s effectiveness by comprehensively observing changes in cognitive function, stress, and physical activity over the long term.
This year, in conjunction with the Seoul-style Garden Prescription Project, forest experience programs will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from April to November at the Yongsan Family Park. The program targets senior citizens using elderly welfare facilities and dementia safety centers across each district.
The “Seoul-style Garden Prescription” is a policy by the city of Seoul aimed at supporting mental health across all age groups, from infants to the elderly, through garden and forest healing.
Shin Jae-won, director of the Seoul Central Park and Leisure Center, stated, “We will lead in dementia prevention through ‘Memory Forest Walk’ and make it a healthy park where we can consistently accompany the elderly.”