Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing 1999;1(1):97-106.

우리나라 치매노인 복지에 관한 고찰

한숙원

Abstract

Senile dementia has become a social health issue as the elderly population has shown a tendancy to in crease. Demented elderly persons have usually been diagnosed as having an irreversible progression of their illness, becoming increasingly more dependent on their family members. The goal of this is to evaluate the types of social welfare services for the elderly -with dementia and to propose the appropriate measures needed to handle this social problem. The goal of this study was achieved by means of a literature review and data search of previously done studies in relation to the status of services for the elderly with dementia in Korea and other countries. Some problems were identified in the current welfare service system currently undertaken in Korea. They were: 1. The difficulty to estimate the prevalence rate of senile dementia due to a lack of public statistics. 2. Insufficient support and a poorly organized welfare service system to meet the health demands of the aged in the following aspects : A. The number of long term sanatoriums is limited. Therefore, most people with dementia are staying in their home without proper treatment. B. Although some home care service agencies are available to provide care, there are still some problems due to insufficient financial support from the government and the low rate of utilization of the services. Finally, the author would like to close the study with several suggestions, one being that a dementia service system should be established on the basis of the medical delivery system to let people sufficiently use the social resources. Also, it is recommended that community health centers should have a well structured and managed network system of information and a referral service coordinating home-based individual care and community-based follow up care through all health care levels. Therefore, dementia complex centers should be working hard to be perceived as advanced, helping institutions through clinical consultation, program design and operation and staff and volunteer training. Additionally the government should develops various dementia facilities and service programs. Finally, it is recommended that research activities related to dementia be encouraged by support from various financial sources-medical insurance and taxes.

Key words: 치매, 치매노인복지, 치매서비스