Effective medical treatment and daily care for dementia patients heavily rely on financial stability. Ensuring timely medication purchases, accessible transportation to hospitals, proper nutrition, stable housing, and adequate care services all require financial resources.

However, a balance in a bank account means little if a patient cannot pay for medical care or manage daily living expenses. Recognizing this critical gap, South Korea’s National Pension Service launched the "Dementia Safe Asset Management Service" pilot program in April 2026. Designed for older adults struggling with asset management or facing economic exploitation due to dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the program establishes customized financial support plans and manages expenditures through trust agreements. It bridges medical and nursing expenses while connecting patients with local care services.

Navigating Mild Cognitive Impairment with Precision

From a clinical standpoint, evaluating patients with mild cognitive impairment requires immense caution. While MCI carries a higher risk of progressing to dementia, it does not guarantee it.

Medical professionals and policymakers emphasize that a diagnostic label should not automatically strip an individual of their financial autonomy or preemptively restrict their property rights. A person who occasionally forgets to pay utility bills may still fully understand how and to whom they wish to entrust their property. Conversely, someone who appears conversational may struggle to evaluate complex financial transactions.

Assessments must focus on current needs rather than future deterioration. Evaluation standards should examine whether a patient can manage routine bills, avoid repetitive remittance errors, comprehend contract implications, and express their own choices when given clear explanations and adequate time.

Balancing Support with Safeguards

Establishing objective, standardized guidelines for evaluating physicians is paramount. Relying solely on cognitive test scores is inadequate. Standardized documentation must record the specific decision-making domain, functional capabilities, patient understanding, provided assistance, and potential confounding factors such as delirium, depression, or hearing loss.

Drawing inspiration from international models—such as Japan’s daily life self-reliance support programs and guardianship support trusts—effective systems must balance support with checks against the abuse of management authority.

Upholding Dignity and Human Rights

Preventing financial exploitation must not translate into suppressing necessary expenditures. Caregiving, dental treatments, enjoying favorite meals, and maintaining social connections all require funding. The success of any asset management program should be measured by how much a patient’s health and daily life improve, rather than the total amount of money remaining in trust.

Furthermore, safeguards must be in place to ensure that these systems do not infringe upon the patient's fundamental rights. Consent must be given freely without institutional pressure, and ongoing monitoring is essential to honor the patient's past wishes and current preferences. Financial assets should never be viewed as resources for external economic investments or social capital; their safety and accessibility for the patient's personal well-being must always take precedence.

Ultimately, a fading memory does not strip an individual of their status as the rightful owner of their assets. Those funds represent a lifetime of labor, thrift, and lived experience. The true measure of success for any dementia asset management system is whether it ensures that a patient's money is used to secure their treatment, care, and daily dignity.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]