KOREA: Need to Expand Care for Elderly with Dementia

SEOUL (Chosunilbo Daily), July 26, 2006: A new study on aspects of dementia services in Korea shows Seoul has yet to better prepare itself to accommodate a rising number of elderly with degenerative mental conditions. In recent years, there has been rapid demographic transition in the country. Declining fertility and mortality rates have left the government with a heavier task of dealing with the health repercussions of an aging society. Figures for the year 2002 by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs indicate the government invested roughly W3 trillion (US$1=W955) on dementia-related care for senior citizens. Data compiled the previous year show a total of 788,000 people, about 21 percent of Korea's elderly, were in need of long-term care. More than 70,000 were believed to be in need of institutional care while the rest needed community care. Despite the growing severity of the problem, the government has reportedly done little to go beyond its "family support first, public support next" policy. Criticism is high especially in light of the fact that public care facilities is still too scarce. The findings were published in the quarterly newsletter of the International Psychogeriatric Association following a comparative research on dementia services in Korea and the U.K. Copyright (c)2003 DIGITAL CHOSUN All rights reserved.