Seoul:Dementia care in South Korea is facing significant challenges as the number of patients continues to rise, revealing significant gaps in the healthcare and support systems.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's population is rapidly aging, with those aged 65 and older expected to make up 20.3 percent of the population by 2025. The number of dementia patients in this age group is projected to exceed one million this year. Despite the introduction of a "national responsibility system for dementia" in 2017 and the expansion of local dementia relief centers, many of these centers are still lacking professional staff, with 61.3 percent of the 257 centers understaffed as of the end of last year.

The fragmented nature of the care system poses a challenge for families, who often face long waits for diagnostic tests and must navigate complex care pathways. With more than 90 percent of daytime care facilities being privately operated, these centers are vulnerable to economic pressures that may not align with the specific needs of dementia care. The gap in specialized public hospitals and facilities exacerbates the problem, leaving some families with wait times of a year or more for appropriate care.

The financial burden associated with dementia care is also substantial. In 2023, dementia-related medical spending for individuals aged 40 and older reached 3.37 trillion won ($2.5 billion). Annual management costs vary significantly depending on the care setting, highlighting the importance of timely and appropriate care placement.

Beyond healthcare, cognitive decline among seniors can lead to financial vulnerabilities, with potential risks of fraud or mismanagement of assets. This issue has prompted banks and other institutions to develop safeguards to protect older individuals.

South Korea's fifth national dementia management plan aims to address these issues by improving staffing at local centers, better aligning medical and long-term care data, and ensuring reimbursement levels reflect the demands of dementia care. The plan emphasizes the need for an interconnected system to help families keep patients in their communities longer, thereby easing public financial pressures and reducing the burden on families.