Sweden's Minister for Social Security Anna Tenje speaks at the Sweden-Korea AgeWell Forum in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

The Swedish Embassy in Korea has hosted the Sweden-Korea AgeWell Forum: Innovations in Health & Aging to better tackle issues surrounding welfare infrastructure for the aging population and policies catered to their needs in Seoul, Wednesday.

"Both South Korea and Sweden we are seeing a rapidly aging population and decreasing birthrates, leading to challenges not just in terms of health and welfare. The doors are threatening skills supply, education systems and the very foundations of our economy," Swedish Ambassador-designate Karl-Olof Andersson said.

"Thankfully, Sweden and Korea have globally renowned track records in both collaboration and innovation. So here there is much we can learn from each other and also much we can achieve together in partnership."

Anna Tenje, Sweden's minister for social security, highlighted the need for innovation and in elderly care underscoring the importance of collaboration and the exchange of ideas in addressing the complex needs of an aging population, highlighting that dementia is a critical issue in Sweden.

"In Sweden alone, between 130,000 and 150,000 people are currently living with dementia. Looking at the proportion of older people in the population, this means that 6.5 percent of those aged 65 or over have dementia, and the corresponding proportion of those aged 80 or over is 18.3 percent," Tenje revealed. She warned that as life expectancy grows, the number of people with dementia is expected to almost double by 2050.

Tenje highlighted the role of assistive technology in supporting older adults, particularly those with dementia, emphasizing the importance of involving end-users in the development of assistive technologies.

The minister also addressed the issue of involuntary loneliness among older adults, linking it to impaired mental and physical health.

"It is important that everyone who works in health care and social care is aware of involuntary loneliness among elderly people. If you detect involuntary loneliness, you can also prevent, alleviate and avoid it," she said.

"By using technology, health and social services can become more accessible and provide more frequent support to those who need it. Technology may not be able to replace human contact, but it can be a valuable complement to strengthen health care and social services."

The forum consisted of two panel discussions with relevant experts focusing on the theme of elderly care policy and regulatory framework. The second panel session delved into a discussion on enhancing dignified care in elderly nursing facilities, efficient management of chronic diseases and the elderly care industry.