China Tattoo Artist Inks Alzheimer Patients With Contact Details, Netizens React

A tattoo artist in China offered to ink on the bodies of elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's disease for free to contribute to society using her professional skills. 

A tattoo artist from the southern province of Guangdong, China surnamed Zhang offered her help to Alzheimer's patients by inking contact details on their bodies for free as a replacement to help cards.  She announced that all her 3 shops will provide the service for free for all Alzheimer's patients. 

China Tattoo Artist Inks Alzheimer Patients:

Zhang claimed that this will be a "more reliable" alternative to medical IDs, help cards, GPS watches, or medical bracelets. People suffering from severe Alzheimer's are prone to remove help cards when they get hyper. It is not the case with tattoo as it is permanent. 

Zhang said that inking patients might look cruel to some but it can help to contact the patient's family in case they get lost. Her tattoo studio will be providing a permanent free service, inking family details of the patient such as phone numbers of the son, daughter, or guardian. The intention is to help a person contact their family if lost. 

Earlier in July, Zhang took to her social media to post about it saying "Caring for Alzheimer's disease." "Free permanent tattoos for seniors with Alzheimer's." This post created a spark on social media as it went viral. 

While many Netizens supported her charitable act many disapproved. In support, one user argued by saying "Compared to the pain of getting lost, the pain of tattoos is much lighter."

A few of them claimed that they are already distressed and that tattoos will just add to their pain. Another user highlighted that finding veins in elderly people is already difficult and tattoos might make it harder. 

Zhang in an interview specified that she would only ink patients with the consent of family members and them, telling about how some sober patients were willing to get inked to lighten the burden of their family members. 

According to her, she was inspired by another tattoo artist when an 80-year-old Alzheimer's patient came to the artist in eastern China to get her contact details inked on her hand. Zhang told about the elderly lady that she initially feared but did it for the sake of her family. 

Zhang also told that she wanted to do something meaningful for society with her professional skills. She revealed that she has already inked some patients while 40 others have contacted after coming across the post. 

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