Authors (including presenting author) :
KAM KW(1), LAU CC(2), WONG WM(2), MAK SH(3), LAM SH(4), WONG SY(5), LI KL(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Patient Resources Centre, TMH (2)Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, TMH (3)Physiotherapy Department, TMH (4)Occupational Therapy Department, TMH (5)Department of Speech Therapy, TMH
Introduction :
Patients with dementia and their carers had faced multi-facet challenges in their daily living, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both international and local studies illustrated that technology had multiple potential applications to dementia. Meanwhile, many community partners of NTWC (e.g. University and NGOs) had successfully applied funding support in recent years to procure/rent technology products for improving the quality of life of elderly with dementia as well as reducing the pressure of carers. Leverage on the success of past experience, TMH worked collaboratively with community partners to launch a technology-based medical social collaboration project for supporting patients staying healthy in the community.
Objectives :
In line with the development of Smart Hospital in HA, the project has been launched with the input from TMH and community partners to: (1)Improve the community and at-home care of patients; (2)Attenuate carers’ stress
Methodology :
(1)Preparation: (1a)Identified the objective, scope of services and mapped out the service workflow with various professions of TMH (Geriatrician, Physiotherapist, Occupation Therapist, Speech Therapist, Social Worker and Spiritual Care Worker) and community partners. (1b)Formulated action plan for providing sustainable services (2)Implementation: (2a)Organised 12 online seminars for explaining useful technology products, community services, online resources, as well as skills and knowledge for taking care of patients in a smart way. (2b)Channelled patients and carers to tailor-made services of NGOs. (2c)Delivered resource kits (video, empowerment information and community resources) for supporting continuous learning. (3)Evaluation:Through survey result and interview with different stakeholders. (4)Sustainability: The services had been included in the Task Force on Integrated Care Model for Dementia of NTWC for providing sustainable and integrated services.
Result & Outcome :
The project served over 400 participants (Caregivers: 39%, Staff: 28%, Volunteer: 33%) with 2,284 attendances. Respondents viewed that this medical social collaboration project was a cost-effective approach for providing a more holistic service for patients and carers, which also maximised the benefits of technology-based services of NGOs. Meanwhile, feedbacks also suggested that the pace of technology application to dementia required urgent policy, funding and practice change.
