Advocating Policy Support for Community Dementia Service in Tuen Mun District, Hong Kong

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to obtain the evidence to advocate the policy support for the community dementia support service in Tuen Mun district from both users’ and professionals' perspectives. Methods: The present study adopted a mixed research method including a cross-sectional structured interview survey targeted on the dementia informal caregivers, and a focus group targeted on the patients, caregivers, medical and allied health professionals. Results: 100 informal adult caregivers were recruited from December 2012 to February 2013. The majorities of the caregivers were female (73%), children (50%) and spouse (42%) of the dementia patients. They took care of the patients for an average of 5.9 years, and spent on the average of 13.8 hours. 46% perceived without sufficient skills of dementia care. They expressed that the most useful community services were the day respite and emergency placement service (66.6%), and day care centers (51.8%). However, about 90% of patients who were in need did not receive such services. Their affordability to such public services was about $1000. In addition, 78% of caregivers also showed mild to moderate depressive symptoms. They ought to set-up the dementia-specific residential care homes (62%), and establish the dementia-specific day care (57%) and respite (56%) services. These findings were consistent with the views of participants in the focus group. The importance of the effective collaboration between hospital care and community support service in HK is being advocated. Conclusion: Further policy support on current dementia care is to be advocated to meet the Needs of the patients in HK.