A model of personalised dementia (痴呆症) support could improve life for people with dementia and their carers by allowing them to make the best choices for their own care needs.
In Britain, there is a concerning gap in dementia support, notes Dr Tomasina, Dementia Care Programme Lead at the University of Plymouth. “They have received a diagnosis but are not yet in need of a care home or input from specialists. Worryingly, these individuals and their carers, who are usually family members, are often left without suitable support to face a range of severe challenges,” she says.
Challenges can include social lonliness, despair and frailty (脆弱) due to combined physical and cognitive decline. However, a five-year research project including the Universities of Plymouth and Manchester-established in 2018 and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research—aims to remedy this disregard by evaluating a system for dementia support they have developed.
Dementia Personalised Care Team(D-PACT) proposes improving the lives of people living with dementia and their carers with personalised emotional and practical support from an appropriately trained Dementia Support Worker. “The Support Worker becomes a trusted point of contact who can spot potential problems before they get into crises,” says Professor Richard Byng, Professor in Primary Care Research at the University of Plymouth. “It’s a model that helps the individual and their carers function and stay together.”
The study, which was conducted in a range of settings, shows potential value and has been well-received by those who took part. “People have described a step change in their support,” says Professor Byng. “They say they feel listened to and treated as a person, getting reassurance and relief—particularly carers—that they are doing things right and someone is alongside them.”
【小题1】What’s the purpose of the personalised support?| A．To cure people with severe dementia. |
| B．To bridge the gap between patients and doctors. |
| C．To help people with dementia choose the best carers. |
| D．To better the life of people with dementia and their carers. |
| A．Build up. | B．Make up for. | C．Take over. | D．Take care of. |
| A．Deal with potential problems. |
| B．Propose to D-PACT a better support. |
| C．Help people with dementia recover quickly. |
| D．Provide emotional support for patients with dementia. |
| A．It can relieve people’s stress. | B．It functions like a person. |
| C．It can help people listen better. | D．It is especially helpful to carers. |
