Since the establishment of the Dementia Collaborative Care Center in 2019, our hospital has provided not only medical services but also case management and referrals to social support programs. These services aim to reduce caregiver burden and enhance the quality of life of individuals with dementia. This study examined whether cognitive promotion activities, facilitated through case management and community referrals, could slow cognitive decline among older adults with dementia. Database analysis was conducted using electronic medical records from January 2019 to December 2021. Individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, or mixed dementia were included. Cognitive status was evaluated using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) at Year 1 and Year 3 (CDR 0.5 = very mild; CDR 1 = mild; CDR 2 = moderate; CDR 3 = severe), and changes in dementia severity were compared between those who participated in case management with cognitive promotion and those who did not. A total of 59 older adults who did not receive case management services showed significant cognitive decline, with mean CDR increasing from 1.4 ± 0.5 in Year 1 to 1.7 ± 0.8 in Year 3 (t = 4.5, p < 0.001).Older adults with milder dementia were more likely to engage in community participation and cognitive promotion activities. Through case management and appropriate referrals, these individuals benefited from increased social engagement, which effectively slowed cognitive deterioration. These findings underscore the importance of dementia collaborative care centers in providing structured case management, supporting caregivers, and encouraging cognitive-promoting activities to delay disease progression.

Authors:
Jia-Yu Wei, Cishan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
Sung-Nian Tsai, Cishan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
Ming-Chih Chen, Cishan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Wei Jia-Yu is a researcher at the Teaching and Research Center of Cishan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Her expertise includes health education, public health, dementia care, and epidemiology.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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