The annual medical expenses for patients hospitalized with dementia in Seoul rose by 48% over the five years from 2013 to 2017, exceeding 10 million won.

According to the Seoul Research Institute's report on the status and improvement of dementia in Seoul on December 21, 1,111 patients were admitted to dementia in Seoul as of 2017.

The total cost of medical care was KRW 122.8 billion, with an average of KRW 1,140,000 per person.

Patients with dementia have not increased significantly in the five years since 2013.

However, per capita medical expenses increased steadily from 6,870,000 won in 2013, to 48% from 1,140,000 won in 2017.

But last year, the researchers estimated that it had declined.

The number of inpatients varied by up to three times in each borough.

As of 2017, the autonomous region with the highest number of inpatients was Songpa-gu (754), and the least autonomous district was Jung-gu (204).

In many cases, autonomous regions with a large population aged 65 or older also had dementia.

Hospitalization costs per capita were in the order of Yongsan-gu (194.94 million won), Seocho-gu (179.79 million won), and Dongjak-gu (1,780,000 won).

The average length of hospitalizations per inpatient was 133 days.

In 2017, a total of 66,36 patients (outpatients) received outpatient care without hospitalization.

This is equivalent to 5% of Seoul's population aged 65 and over (1365,000).

The average outpatient fee per person was KRW 220,000, and the total cost was KRW 14.4 billion.

The number of outpatients was the highest at 3,958 in Nowon-gu and the lowest at 1,112 in Jung-gu.

The most outpatient medical expenses per person were in Seocho-gu with 280,000 won.

The average number of visits per outpatient was 4 days.

Health care costs from dementia are increasing, but there is still a lack of facilities to care for the elderly.

As of last year, there were 208 senior care facilities in Seoul and 12,671 people in the garden.

Only 52 facilities (4,545 capacity) were certified in Seoul.

In particular, it was found that there is a relatively shortage of nursing facilities in downtown areas such as Jongno-gu, Jung-gu, Seocho-gu, and Gangnam-gu.

The low accessibility of dementia relief centers run by local governments was also a problem.

The average distance from the 25 boroughs to the Chimae Peace Center was 880 meters.

It's a bit far for the elderly to walk.

Also, among the users of dementia relief centers and day care centers, 5 ~ 6% of the beneficiaries of basic living and 10 ~ 16% of households with vulnerable households, including those living alone or with grandchildren, have a low level. The researchers advised.