Dementia cases to soar putting financial burden on society

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- The number of dementia sufferers in South Korea will
likely soar in the coming years, increasing the financial burden on its
rapidly-aging society, a report released by a state-run think tank showed
Tuesday.

Over 45,000 South Koreans were afflicted with dementia in 2009 and the number is
expected to rise to 47,000 in 2010. It is forecast to surpass 1 million by 2030,
according to the report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs.
The ratio of dementia patients among those aged 65 or older, which came to 8.58
percent in 2009, is forecast to reach 9.74 percent in 2020, according to the
report.
South Korea is quickly becoming an aged society, in which more than 14 percent of
the population is 65 or older. The nation became an aging society in 2000, when
the ratio exceeded 7 percent.
Medical spending on dementia patients aged 65 or older jumped six times from 2002
to 302.6 billion won (US$263.8 million) in 2007 due to rising costs of dementia
care and an increasing number of dementia patients, the report said.
The cost of dementia care per capita rose to 2.47 million won in 2007 from 1.18
million won in 2002 and the number of dementia sufferers soared more than three
times to 122,000 during the 2002-2007 period, it said.
"We need to explore ways to bring down the costs of dementia care," said Oh
Young-hui, a senior researcher who wrote the report.
"The government should offer dementia check-ups at all public health centers as
early diagnosis of dementia is critical," Oh added.
jia@yna.co.kr
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