WSJ runs an article on "Korea's Dementia Crisis" in wake of Leeteuk's family tragedy

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

The tragic deaths this week of the father and grandparents of Lee Teuk, leader of K-pop boy band Super Junior, are raising calls for South Korea’s government to do more to lighten the burden for dementia patient’s families.

The superstar’s father and grandparents were found dead at their home in southern Seoul. According to media reports, police said a note at the scene suggests Mr. Lee’s 59-year-old father, who for several years had been sole caregiver for his parents—both suffering from dementia—committed suicide after killing them. The case is still under investigation.

The financial, physical and psychological stress of dealing with dementia is hitting more and more people in South Korea, where looking after these patients is widely regarded as a “family matter.”

Taking care of one’s parents is a Confucian value many South Koreans still strongly adhere to. Seeking outside help is deemed undutiful—not that such help is easily available. As the number of senile-dementia patients in this rapidly aging country climbs, the social-welfare system lags far behind.

The number of dementia patients age 65 or over who visited a doctor for treatment in 2011 hit 288,987—more than three times the number five years earlier, which works out to an average annual growth rate of 24%. And the number of dementia sufferers not getting professional help is believed to be much higher.

Government policy responses have included increasing health-insurance benefits to cover lighter dementia, operating a hotline, and training more professional caregivers. There are plans to build more public hospitals for dementia patients; there are currently only seven nationwide.

But a leader of the opposition Democratic Party called on the government to act more aggressively.

“Welfare policy is based on the notion that the government guarantees everyone a minimum level of life,” Kim Han-gill said Wednesday.


Source: WSJ

Read this article via Koreaboo's Twitter.

Comments

[bubblyshades.livejournal.com]

Caring for people with disabilities and/or mental illnesses can definitely take a toll emotionally and psychologically and physically. The patients can slowly become isolated from the community because of their disabilities, and the caretaker can also become isolated because of all the time and effort put into looking after the patient. It can become a really tough cycle, where the quality of care just lessens because the caretaker is so overworked and stressed. There needs to be better resources for both the patients and the caretakers.

"It's okay to ask for help" is a mentality that a lot of people still struggle to accept and put into practice. Couple that with the stigma and ignorance which still surround mental health, we've still got a ways to go with improving the services for such families and individuals.

[plantbottle.livejournal.com]

A+++++ comment.

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

mte

[silent-swift.livejournal.com]

A+ Comment

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

I do hope that this tragic event leads to treating dementia AND mental health much better so as this doesn't happen again to somebody else.

[luvey.livejournal.com]

there was an article posted in Omona a few months back about the trend of more older folks fending more for themselves, since their children didn't want that burden. what i remember most about that article was the lack of governmental assistance because the social system was set up that family took care of their own.

hopefully this sad and heartbreaking incident can be a light in opening up dialogue on the issue of elderly care outside of the home and taking mental health issues seriously.

[jaerotic.livejournal.com]

a good percent of korea's poor are senior citizens and here in seoul you'll find that a lot of the homeless people who sleep in subway stations are elderly. it really just breaks my heart whenever i see it.

[1111-am.livejournal.com]

Dementia's tough. And I know how difficult it can be dealing with someone who has it. I'm glad to read that there's going to be more plans to build more hospitals for dementia patients, because 7 is not a lot at all. Hopefully there'll be more awareness of other mental health stuff too.

[mad-nux.livejournal.com]

we've been taking care of our grandma who has alzheimer's for years and it's really hard especially when depression runs in the family. i understand why leeteuk's dad did that, i've had the same thoughts as him. my mom always said she considered my grandma to be dead long ago, and i feel bad for agreeing.

[magicpineapple.livejournal.com]

tbqh, i think unless you're put into the position of having to care of someone with alzheimer's long-term, such as you and i, you can't really understand the way leeteuk's dad thought.

[kaninasan.livejournal.com]

wow that's so sad

i know it would be very hard for Koreans to change those deep rooted values, that family should take care of the elderly. but honestly in the case of dementia patients it's better for both the patient and their family to place the person in a home. i used to work in a home for dementia patients for years and while it's hard at first, eventually the patient has a safe environment where experts take care of them, and their family don't have to worry about their safety and can go about their lives normally.

[ullielvidina.livejournal.com]

My mom had the same experience although the disease is different. My late grandma had stroke. She couldn't talk, drooled, peed and pooped on her pants, and couldn't even move a muscle. It was very depressing and my mom had to take care of her, but my mom did it wholeheartedly. I guess it depends on the individual themselves. I guess my mom really loved my late grandma, that's why she didn't look depressed or angry when she had to take care of her.

[xdaisyxlovesxbb.livejournal.com]

First off, I want to say RIP to Leeteuk's father and grandparents. I can't imagine what he is feeling right now. I understand the burden families go though with dementia and Alzheimer's patients because my grandma has Alzheimer's and I see my family struggle with it.

I think that everyone who are caretakers should try to use respite to take some of the burden off their shoulders. Here is a link for people who are caretakers of Alzheimer's patients that are looking for some temporary rest from caregiving http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-caregiver-respite.asp . it might help take some stress off for a short amount of time and help remind caretakers that they need a break ever once in a while.

i hope one day we will soon find a cure for this awful disease or at least prevent it from happening.

this is semi-related, i listened to a podcast that talks about a technique a senior center uses to deal with Alzheimer's and Dementia patients who like to wander around in the center. it is really interesting technique imo. http://www.radiolab.org/story/91948-the-bus-stop/ enjoy.

[guilty41.livejournal.com]

Sometimes family members are reluctant to seek help because of guilt and pride. Healthcare can also help these people by aiding them in taking care for their loved ones at home; helping them to adjust their home, putting up day or short stay care so that the caretakers can get some release from their stressful duty and in the meantime get professional help for the patient. The care should mainly go to the caretakers (often partners and or children) because of the burden of physical, psychological and financial stress. Healthcare should be a priority in countries with such alarming statistics.
I hope the media in time can open the eyes of the government.

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

it's not even so much about the mentality that prevents them from asking for help, korea (and a lot of other asian countries) just doesn't have the specialized care public and available enough for people to seek out.

[caramelorchoco.livejournal.com]

coming from an an asian cultural background, it is an incredibly foreign thing to understand that if anything were to go wrong with your relatives, you are not the one taking care of them.

i never realized the extent of this until i saw for myself how difficult it was for my aunt to take care of my grandmother who was bed ridden at the time. being a carer is incredibly draining and it does take a huge toll on your life. she was hesitant to get help from a nurse who could come in and help with certain jobs but was more open to it as time went on, but my grandfather was not up for it

when i came to the UK and saw that 'carer' actually meant something and that carers were given help by the government, i didnt get it at all but after volunteering for a young carers programme, i've understood why we need to give help to carers and why asian families should be open about the help

its difficult because they still feel like theyre relinquishing a big part of what is their own responsibility, its a very difficult concept to grasp for a lot of people. i can understand where they're coming from yet at the same time, i really do hope more people will realize that its okay to ask for help because you yourself need to be healthy (body and mind) to be able to take care of your family and enjoy these moments with them.

[magicpineapple.livejournal.com]

having to care for someone who is disabled/elderly takes so much out of you... it took me years before i realized that it's okay to ask for help. you aren't "weak" for asking for help. if anything, you're strong because you can admit that you need help.

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

My uncle killed himself after my grandfather was put into care. He had a number of reasons but yeah. Sometimes looking after parents is the last thing depressed relatives have tethering them to this world. But it got to the point where my grandfather couldn't be cared for at home by nonprofessionals, and then to the point where he couldn't be cared for at home at all.

Before my grandfather was put into care he fell out with my uncle over something petty. My uncle had been looking after him for years. My dad and other uncle still think my grandfather would do better at home with his family and 24/7 care, and are willing to do it, but my two aunts (a doctor and a nurse) insist it's gotta be a facility with resources for dementia patients. It's created a lot of tension in the family, and money isn't even a factor the way it was for Leetuk's dad.

In conclusion, even when resources are available dementia is still an awful disease.

[xblackchristmas.livejournal.com]

Was it even confirmed that Leeteuk's father killed his grandparents?

When people hit closer to elderly life, they are at high risk of depression too. I can't imagine what has gone through Leeteuk's father's head when he had to take care of not just one, but two people with dementia. Being around people with dementia really takes a toll on one's heart because patients will never return to their old self and it's saddening to see what they do.