With the prolonged life expectancy of Koreans comes a gloomy reality ― an increasing number of dementia patients and tragic stories involving their families.

The heavy physical, psychological and financial burden on family members with patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease was epitomized by a recent incident in which a 78-year-old man killed his 74-year-old wife after taking care of her for two years. The case should serve to shed light on the seriousness of the problem and lead to greater efforts to build a thorough and comprehensive system to cope with the debilitating disease.

According to figures from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of dementia patients increased from about 420,000 in 2008 to more than 530,000 this year, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the population aged 65 or older. The number is expected to rise to 800,000 by 2020 and exceed one million in 2025. Spending on medical treatment for dementia also jumped from 56 billion won ($51 million) in 2001 to 810 billion won in 2010.

The problem is that despite the government’s efforts to increase support, the burden of caring for dementia patients is still taken on mostly by their families. Health officials estimate that at least 60 percent of those with Alzheimer’s disease are under the care of their family members, about 40 percent of whom are their spouses. Eight out of 10 persons who are caregivers for a dementia patient have difficulty maintaining their jobs, eventually tumbling into poverty.

The struggle with the disease, which demands around-the-clock attention, should no longer be left entirely with family members. Without effective measures being taken to improve the public support system, our society will see more and more tragic cases of dementia patients being killed by their spouses or children exhausted by the heavy burden of caring for them.

It may be needed that all people aged 65 or older are obliged to receive a checkup for dementia symptoms so that they could be treated at an earlier stage of the disease. Requirements for benefiting from the long-term care insurance system should be eased for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The scheme launched in 2008 currently covers less than a quarter of dementia patients.

More nursing facilities should be set up across the country, with efforts also needed to secure more specialized medical staff and caregivers. Currently, less than 30 percent of dementia patients are accommodated at the 4,237 facilities including 1,530 run or financed by the government.

Experts estimate social and economic cost for coping with dementia, which amounted to 8.7 trillion won in 2010, will skyrocket to 134 trillion won by 2050. Such a forecast raises the need to adjust the priority of welfare programs for old-aged people. What is urgently needed is to reform the Basic Old-age Pension plan, which critics say pays benefits to many wealthy seniors who do not need them.