치매노인단기보호시설의 개선방안에 관한 연구

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to review the conditions of the shorter-term protection facilities for the dementia elderly and thereby, explore the ways to activate them. To this end, employees working for 10 such facilities and their users were sampled to be surveyed. In order to find the solutions to the problems involving the operation of the shorter-term protection facilities for the dementia elderly, employees and primary carers nurses were surveyed by means of a questionnaire. The results of this study can be summarized as follows; First, it is necessary to increase the number of the shorter-term protection facilities for the dementia elderly and improve the existing facilities. In consideration of the various conditions including social and financial ones, it may be impossible to expand the facilities or move them to other sites, but it is deemed urgent to secure an independent space where the dementia elderly and employees can roam about. Second, it is essential to increase the budget. To do so, the government is requested to show a strong will and provide for a drastic financial support. In addition, it is necessary to make use of the private welfare resources. Namely, it is required of the facilities to garner a financial or sponsorship from companies, religious organizations and civil organizations. Third, the shorter-term protection facilities need to be operated flexibly. Currently, a dementia patient can be accommodated only twice in the facilities, while the maximum protection period is 3 months per year (45 days per use). Since the facilities fall short, they may be converted into shorter- and medium-term protection facilities, or the protection period needs to be adjusted flexibly in consideration of users' conditions. Then, a proper protection service may be delivered through cooperation of family members to the dementia elderly. Fourth, the primary carers should be supported financially. In this regard, it is necessary to pay an allowance to the carers or have them covered by a special insurance system. In addition, carers' financial burden needs to be relieved by overhauling the current medical insurance system. So far, the conditions of the shorter-term protection facilities for the dementia elderly have been reviewed and reform measures to improve them have been suggested. Lastly, it is hoped that the results of this study will be useful to the protection services for the dementia elderly.