Medical Care Networks for Dementia Patients

In 2008, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan announced “The Emergency Project for the Improvement of Medical Care and Quality of Life for People Suffering from Dementia” to prepare for the ongoing rapid graying society. In response to the project, local prefectural and ordinance-designated city governments nationwide have initiated the development of medical networks for patients with dementia. Fukuoka City has a population of about 1.48 million people including an estimate of more than 20,000 patients with dementia. In this city, a dementia medical center was set up in Kyushu University Hospital, based on Fukuoka City’s original network system in which 109 dementia consultant physicians are in charge of the initial diagnosis, and 39 cooperating hospitals deal with peripheral symptoms and complications of dementia, under coordinated management by the Fukuoka City government and the Fukuoka City Medical Association. Since the launch of this system, about 150 new patients per month have been diagnosed with dementia. It is important that medical care, welfare, and nursing care cooperate in the development and maintenance of a medical network for the dementia patients in the community, and the preparation of a unique network characteristic of the locality is desired. To provide appropriate care in the future to the increasing number of dementia patients, wide-ranging support by the entire society beyond the boundaries of different occupations is essential in addition to the network preparation.