Tuesday, 30 October 2012

Korean news on dementia...치매 간병...

It is a very dark news on the burden on families to care for people with dementia
that the older people are being murdered or they are committing suicides.

I think this an a social matter that the state has to intervene in order to assist families
to support their love ones. It is time that Korea cannot take informal carers for granted!


치매 아내 목 졸라 숨지게 한 남성, 깨끗한 옷으로 갈아입은 뒤 투신 시도

[간병 살인… 고령화 한국, 평범한 가정의 비극]

혹시 내가 먼저 가면 당신, 자식들에 짐 되잖아… 사랑하니까 함께 가자

2년 지극정성 돌보던 70대, 아내 살해 후 투신 시도… 아들 "아버지 이해합니다"


국내 치매환자 53만명… 그 72%는 가족이 돌봐

최근 2년새 '치매 자살·살해' 언론에 보도된 것만 10건

이젠 가족문제 아닌 국가문제… 지원 없을땐 '우울한 범죄'


조선일보
박상기 기자
입력 2012.10.31 03:20
수정 2012.10.31 07:38

 지난 19일 서울 영등포구 문래동 아파트에서 치매에 걸린 아내 조모(74)씨를 목 졸라 숨지게 한 혐의로 이모(78)씨가 경찰에 구속됐다. 이씨는 50여년간 함께 살았던 조씨가 2년 전 치매에 걸린 뒤부터 병시중을 도맡아 왔다. 조씨가 숨지자 이씨도 스스로 아파트에서 투신하려다 때마침 집에 온 아들이 막아 자살은 하지 못했다.



이 사건은 우리 사회에서도 고령화 사회의 우울한 현상인 '치매 동반 자살' '치매 살인' 같은 끔찍한 일이 시작됐음을 보여준다. 일본에서는 이미 지난 1980년대부터 치매 자살, 치매 살인 등이 심각한 사회문제로 대두했다.




↑ [조선일보]경기 동두천시의 한 요양원에서 치매 노인이 팔을 베고 복도에 누워 있다. 그나마 이처럼 요양원 등에서 간병인의 도움을 받고 있는 치매 환자는 전체의 28%에 불과하다. /정경열 기자



↑ [조선일보]일러스트=이철원 기자

경찰에 구속된 이씨는 서울의 한 명문대 경영학과를 졸업하고 건설 회사에 들어가 40년 가까이 일했다. 퇴직 후 이씨는 조씨와 여가를 즐기며 살았다. 그러던 중 2년 전 조씨의 치매 증상이 시작됐다. 이씨는 두 아들과 며느리에게 "병간호는 모두 내가 할 테니 신경 쓰지 마라"고 했다. 이때부터 이씨는 24시간 내내 아내 조씨 옆에서 병세가 호전될 수 있게 책을 읽어 줬고, 옛 이야기를 들려줬다. 종교 생활도 시작했다. 2년 내내 하루도 빠지지 않고 조씨의 손을 잡고 새벽 기도를 나가 치매를 낫게 해달라고 함께 기도했다. 이씨는 그전에 여러 모임에 나가 친구들과 어울리길 즐겼지만, 2년 동안 한 번도 모임에 나가지 않았다.



이런 노력에도 조씨의 상태는 1년 전부터 급속히 악화됐다. 조씨는 이씨에게 폭력을 휘두르고 욕설을 했다. 그래도 이씨는 조씨를 요양 시설에 보내거나 간병인을 쓰라는 주변의 권유를 듣지 않았다. 아내가 치매를 앓고 있다는 게 알려지는 걸 원치 않았기 때문이다. 부부의 아들은 경찰 조사에서 "아버지가 정말 많이 힘들어했다. 그러면서도 자식들이 어머니 병간호를 못 하게 했다. 당신의 아내이니, 당신이 책임져야 한다고 생각하셨다"고 말했다.



사건이 발생한 날 오후 9시, 함께 사는 아들 내외는 회사에서 돌아오지 않았고, 손자들도 학교에서 공부하던 중이라 집에는 노부부뿐이었다. 자려고 누운 이씨에게 조씨가 베개와 옷걸이를 휘두르기 시작했다. 이씨가 제지하자 리모컨을 집어던졌고, 어려서 부모를 여읜 이씨가 평소 가장 싫어하던 말인 '부모 없이 막 자란 놈'이라고 욕을 했다.



이씨가 조씨를 밀어 넘어뜨렸다. 이씨는 경찰에서 "아내 목을 잡고 '여보, 이제 그만하자. 같이 가자. 사랑하니까 내가 이러는 거야'라고 말했다"고 진술했다.



조씨가 숨지자 이씨는 아들에게 전화를 걸어 "내가 네 어머니를 죽였다. 나도 따라간다"고 말했다. 속옷 차림이던 이씨는 이대로 뛰어내리면 자식들에게 창피를 줄 것 같아, 깨끗한 옷으로 갈아입었다. 베란다에 한쪽 다리를 걸친 순간, 아버지의 전화를 받은 아들이 때마침 집으로 뛰어들어왔고, 이씨의 투신을 막았다. 경찰 조사에서 아들은 "아버지를 이해한다"고 말했다.



이씨는 경찰에서 "내가 아내보다 먼저 죽으면, 저 사람을 누가 거두어 주나 걱정했다. 자식들에게 짐을 남기고 갈 순 없어 같이 죽어야겠구나 하는 생각을 많이 해 왔다. 함께 갔어야 했는데…" 하고 말했다.



고령화 사회의 질병인 치매 때문에 벌어지는 자살·살인 사건은 이미 우리 사회에서 꾸준히 발생하고 있다. 작년 10월엔 전북 익산에서 이모(75)씨가 치매를 앓던 부인 김모(69)씨를 살해하고 자신도 목을 매 숨졌다. 올해 2월엔 대구의 한 병원에 입원했던 치매 환자 A(60)씨가 신병을 비관해 병원 창문 밖으로 뛰어내려 스스로 목숨을 끊었다. 지난달 26일엔 전남 곡성에서 오모(78)씨가 치매를 앓던 부인 윤모(76)씨와 함께 농약을 마셔 음독자살을 시도했다가 이웃에게 발견돼 병원으로 옮겨져 목숨을 건졌다. 오씨는 '요양원에 보내자'는 자식들의 권유를 뿌리친 채 1년 전부터 아내를 병간호해온 것으로 드러났다. 이처럼 치매에 걸린 노인이 자살하거나, 치매에 걸린 배우자를 살해하고 자신도 자살해 언론에 보도된 사건만 지난해부터 10건이 넘는다.



그러나 아직 우리나라 어느 기관도 치매 등 노인 질병과 관련한 사건·사고 통계는 없다. 전문가들은 언론을 통해 알려진 것 외에도 수많은 사례가 있을 것이라 추정한다.



보건복지부 에 따르면 우리나라 치매 환자 수는 올해 10월 기준 53만여명이다. 최근 4년 사이 10만명이 늘었고, 2025년이면 100만명을 넘어설 것으로 예상된다. 53만여명 중 국가가 지원하는 요양 시설과 간병인 도움을 받는 사람은 14만9000명이고, 나머지는 가정에서 각자 알아서 치매 환자를 돌보고 있다. 보건복지부 관계자는 "우리나라가 지난 2000년 고령화 사회(65세 인구가 전체 인구의 7% 이상)에 진입했고, 2017년엔 고령 사회(〃14% 이상)를 맞이할 예정이지만, 치매 등 노인 질병에 대한 관심이 부족해 가족이 온전히 그 부담을 감당하는 경우가 대부분"이라고 말했다.



연세대 사회복지학과 김동배 교수는 "전 세계적으로 가장 빠르게 고령화가 진행되는 우리 사회에서 대표적 노인 질병인 치매는 더 이상 개인 문제가 아니다"며 "부부 또는 가족끼리만 문제를 해결하려고 하면 앞으로 이런 우울한 범죄가 계속되고 늘어날 것"이라고 말했다. 한국보건사회연구원 윤석명 연구위원은 "치매에 걸린 노인이 병을 창피해하고, 가족도 이를 숨기려 하는 경우가 많다"며 "국가 차원에서 이들에 대한 지원을 확대해 치매가 개인 문제가 아닌 사회적 문제임을 인식시켜야 한다"고 말했다.



- Copyrights ⓒ 조선일보 & chosun.com, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지 -

Sunday, 14 October 2012

E Munch

@ Tate Modern
28 June - 14 October 2012

A replica by Sae-Won!
I have to say, I really enjoyed his exhibition when I did not expect
to be surprised and heard 'Scream' did not come!
So I decided to paint my version of 'Scream' and
I plan to paint a parody version of it too.


.


Thursday, 20 September 2012

Medair

Relief work, recovery (rehab) work, development work

There are many compassionate people
BUT
There are not many wise compassionate people. 

Sunday, 2 September 2012

A right to die

Do you think you have the right die?
What is your answer instinctively?


I guess many will be, 'yes'.
However, in the UK you do not have a right to die unless you commit suicide.
The states has a duty of care to care for you medically as well as social care,
housing, and social security. I also remember a case in which the man was so
hopeless (no mental health issues) and wished no die, but I had to support him
in various ways to 'sustain' his life. He did pass way with natural cause few month later.

There has been in very interesting case at the High Court about the very
subject and I was interested if the UK law is ready for one's right to die.
Below is a link to the man who took the case up to High Court to meet his needs,
however he failed and he passed away only few days after the ruling.

Tony Nicklinson

If the case had won, it would have had a hugh impact in many different levels within
individuals, society, law, medicine, and social care. First of all, it is a moral question
for all of us to think about.....

Further reading;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19341722

Monday, 27 August 2012

Metamorphosis- Titian 2012

11 July- 23 September 2012
@ National Gallery



A very clever and interesting collaboration of three artists

Chris Ofili
Conrad Shawcross
Mark Wallinger

It was a cross over of art, dance, and music in its various forms.
I am a fan of Chris Ofili and it was a delightful occasion to see his
very recent paintings.


Thursday, 2 August 2012

Good byes.....


I have decided to go on a secondment to Reablement Team
which is a short-term assessment team at the end of the month.
Therefore, I have been busy closing all my cases and I have visited
a number service users to say good bye and to inform them I will
be de-allocated from the case or re-allocation of cases to other social worker.

One of my long-term MND service user was in tear when shared
my leaving news. She has always been very warm and nice.
She has never let a Christmas go without a small gift.

I will really miss my old team, but I need a small change to keep me sane!

Monday, 9 July 2012

Personal Health Budget

Researchers at SPRU have interviewed people taking part in the pilot of Personal Health Budgets (PHB) in England, 9 months after they had been offered their own budget. The overall picture emerging from our findings is one of appreciation for the new way of funding, together with improvements in health and well-being; for the people with long-term health problems, and for their carers and family members. Problems and delays have also played a role in the implementation, sometimes threatening to undermine the good that the PHB has done.

People found that PHBs:
  • increased their sense of control over their illness and treatment
  • led to improvements in mental health
  • led to less use of services facilitated
  • greater continuity of care.
The access to services not normally provided by the NHS was another benefit of the scheme. People used it to take part in exercise, or activities that improved self-confidence and their social lives, which then led to reduced use of GP services and prescriptions. The increased health of the budget holders or use of PHBs to provide care, led to less demands and stress on family and informal carers. Most people interviewed felt that they were best placed to know their own needs and what would make them feel better.

There were however problems with the implementation. People recounted the frustration of having their requests for services refused by PCT staff who had responsibility for signing the care/support plans. There seemed to be a lot of confusion amongst people and between different PCTs as to what PHBs could be used for; particularly whether budgets had to be limited to narrow health-related uses or could be used for wider well-being gains. There were a lot of delays reported: first in getting approval and then with setting up the services. These could cause disappointment and distress.

For more details you can download the report, which includes an executive summary,
by clicking this link: http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/2222/

Reablement

Home care re-ablement is high on the English adult social care policy agenda.
It aims to help people regain skills and confidence so they can live as independently as possible, thus reducing needs for longer-term home care services. However, little is known about what re-ablement involves or how best to organise services. 

This first study of five well-established re-ablement services shows which features are considered to contribute to success.

The findings reported here constitute part of a larger study into the long-term impact of home care re-ablement services.

The full report and a summary are available from:
Full Report

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Habitual Complainers

 

Posted on by informededucation
I just read a fascinating article that had been tweeted by @gcourous“Finding fascinating goals”. This great article contains a little gem:
“Habitual complainers usually have more goals for others than they have for themselves.”
This is a lovely statement, and if you listen to habitual complainers you would certainly think this was true.

However, I am confident that if you dug a little deeper in to the brains of these critics and cynics you would find just as many goals. The difference? These people are losing faith in their ability to meet them, and have been so stung by criticism and nagging self-doubt that they are lashing out other people instead.

Really, it’s just a version of “it isn’t fair!”, or at an even more basic level, complainers are voicing their basic low-level fight or flight response.

Listen to any prominent education critic on either side of the debate and somewhere underneath the self-righteousness there is someone who desperately wants to make a difference and improve things. The more viciously they are attacked for their suggestions the more aggressively they will fight back, complain, and criticise.

In both the USA and the UK I’ve seen prominent figures on both sides of the argument struggle to make their arguments under a siege of criticism. Each side sees the other as habitual complainers and attacks them. Many of them stop even trying to engage with their opposite numbers and start preaching to the converted instead. This inevitably ends up with a lot of one-sided I-told-you-so-isms and I’m-more-on-the-side-of-kids-than-you-ness.

On a lower level we see the same in schools. Leaders pushing unpopular reforms end up becoming entrenched and sit with their colleagues and criticise ‘problem’ staff and lick their wounds. Teachers sitting in staff areas laughing and criticising management as part of their daily routine. Both sound dismissive of the other, but they all really want the school to be a better place despite the rhetoric.
Of course everyone needs to blow off a little steam at times, but where jokes turn in to a destructive habit, there’s something wrong with the culture.

It starts at the top. If teacher, unions, media and politicians could stop attacking each other for cheap point-scoring then they’d start to see that their targets have just as many goals and dreams as they do. We need to get less defensive, admit our own mistakes, and make ourselves feel better by helping others with their own goals.

I’d love to see the teaching unions engage alongside the government instead of both sides accusing the other of greedy and wicked hypocrisy and assuming any new measure is a weapon to be used against them. I’d love to see the Twitter community engage in finding the hidden gem of an idea in the tweets of people they dislike, instead of ganging up and attacking them (as I blogged before)
I saw a great quote in Richard Branson’s book Business Stripped Bare, where he recounts something told to him by the Dalai Lama:
“If you wish to experience peace,
provide peace for another.
If you wish to know that you are safe,
cause others to know that they are safe.
If you wish to understand seemingly incomprehensible things,
help another better understand.
If you wish to heal your sadness or anger,
seek to heal the sadness and anger of another.
Those others are watching you now. They are looking to you for guidance, for help, for courage, for strength, for understanding, and for assurance at this hour.”
Definitely food for thought.
I hope I’m not just being overly optimistic or idealist.

.

Monday, 28 May 2012

Risk Assessment

A very good training on Risk Asssessment, mainly in mental health,
however still relevant to my post for dual diagnosis cases.

Thursday, 10 May 2012

Shakespeare's Globe 2012

A brilliant play of The two gentlemen of Verona. Acted by two male actors covering about 8 characters. They have finished their show at the globe but look out for Two Gents Productions. Excellent combo actors!

Thursday, 26 April 2012

Lucian Freud...Portraits

@ National Portrait Gallery
9 Feb - 27 May 2012

A collection of very powerful imgaines that flood in your mind even after the exhibition.

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Rachmaninov

Philharmonia orchestra @ royal festival hall

Conductor... Leif Segerstam
Piano... Denis Matsuev

Sibelius Nightride and Sunrise
Rachmaninov Piano concerto no. 2
Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 2


Rachmaninov Piano concerto no. 2 is one of my favourite pieces and it always makes my hair stand whenever I listen to especially live. This was the main piece I went for tonight. I go to listen to this piece at least once a year and interestingly someone will be playing it. A piece in demand by londoners!

I also love Rachmainiov's Piano concerto no.3, which many people will remember through the film 'Shine'. One of the most demanding piano work for performers to accomplish. The pianist's play was very sharp and clean. I will certainly look out for him again. For Rachmaninov fans, pianist, Nikolai Lugansky is another Rachmaninov player who appears is London quite frequently.



.

Thursday, 19 April 2012

meditation...

I wrote after seeing Richter's exhibition that I wanted to paint.
I managed to get my acts together and equipped myself with some basics.
I have chosen acrylic paints for practical reasons.
I must say the act of painting itself is so relaxing that it almost feels like
meditation, which I needed today. I got carried away painting for hours!

























Both paintings unfinished...
Left one is Richter inspired
Right one is Hockney inspired

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

A difficult conversation...

I wrote about a cancer service user previously.
She and her partner are not the easiest people to engage with
but they are so funny and warm when you get to know them better.

Palliative Care Team is involved but the couple is new to them and the
social worker who was going to support her with writing a will
came back to me for help. So I went to help her filing out the
will booklet to be sent to the solicitor. I left it with her two weeks
ago but there were areas she has not decided on yet e.g executor etc.
The important parts of the will required more decisions to be made.

She become tearful a few times and diverted the conversation to another
subject and I had to make her focus on a number of occasions.
I said to her that it is a difficult conversation and she is
welcome to take her time to think about her will.
On reflection, did I really want to arrange another visit to gather more information?
Not really, I was actually quite keen to complete it today and post it to the solicitor.
          A, I did not want to delay the process
          B, Tight with time to visit again.

I agreed to return next week so that she has enough time to think about
the detailed information. I knew that it was not going to be finished in one visit
and End of Life Care work does require more time and patience. Although,
in practice, I realised I was rushing myself to gather the relevant information.
It is painful enough for her to face her own death and to be making plans for
after death would have been more difficult. I am honoured to stay with
her through the journey for the next few months.

If I were to remain in practice for longer, palliative care social work would
have definitely been my next move.

Research Updates

SPRU 2011 Annual Report is now available.

It contains a wide array of social policy research, 33 projects in total, covering:

* social care services - choice and personalisation, integration, transition
* disability, long-term, and life-limiting conditions - children, young people and adults
* welfare to work
* foster care, maltreatment and corporate parenting
* health and work

We also feature reviews of: our successful 5-year DH Research Programme; the best way to deliver care closer to home; the impact of our work on policy and practice; aiding Parliament as expert witnesses and workshops on becoming a researcher. There is information on the many external activities that we take part in which contribute to the health of the social policy community, and news of all our publications and international presentations in 2011.

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/2174/

Saturday, 14 April 2012

St.Ives, Cornwall

A week of post Easter break in St.Ives was amazing.






What I was doing in St.Ives...new inspirations!

guitar, coffee and painting...have it all!

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

A bigger picture.. D Hockney

I absolutely enjoyed his exhibition at RA.
21 Jan- 9 Apr 2012


It was nice that he actually recorded the audio guide.
How many artist's voice do you get to hear as most of them are dead!
These are the quotes I liked;

Nature cannot be controlled but followed

Planned to be spontaneous

Technology need mad imaginative people to use it


This was the highlight of the exhibition.
You can feel his energy from the size of the painting.
The colourings was just amazing although
after 2 hours your eyes can get a bit tired.

I was surprised to know that he was commissioned
to paint for this exhibition.
Excellent evening out!

Thursday, 22 March 2012

what matters to you

'Our live begin to end the day we become
silent about things that matter.'

-Martin Luther King Jr-


It is really true when you think about it.
The quote was used as an opening at the End of Life Care training.
As many societies fear to discuss death although it is a
natural process for all of us. If we could re-think about death
by promoting 'good death', which could be an empowering experience.
Think about what 'good death' means to you.



.

Sunday, 18 March 2012

Classical Spectacular!

It was a very over the top show but very entertaining!
The music was excellent and always nice with good companies.
Lighting, fireworks, dancers and balloons!

@ Royal Albert Hall





Yayoi Kusama

At Tate Modern
9 Feb- 5 Jun 2012



 Displays outside the gallery

Artist herself in her own installation work, 1960s

Artist herself now in her own installation
Really cool room!

It was a very unusual and interesting exhibition,
well worth a visit and more than once.
 Be prepared to be surprised!


 In line with her exhibition the members bar was serving
Japanese food and this wonderful cocktail!
Green tea sake and ginger martini...yummm!


Tuesday, 13 March 2012

A quote

"Cold or not, God is present,"
By Carl Jung

I don't really understand what it means
without knowing his position with God.

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Archery

I went for a weekend of archery lessons.
It was surprisingly interesting!
I might have it in my Korean blood.