INTRODUCING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHILDREN AND DEMENTED ELDERLY (ABCDE) PROJECT

Abstract

Declining birthrate and a growing population of elderly people is serious problem in Japan. Since aging is one of the most hazardous risk factor developing dementia, prevalence of dementia is growing rapidly. In 2013, we have proposed Association Between Children and Demented Elderly (ABCDE) project. The scope of ABCDE project is to educate adolescents in regard to dementia, thereby early understanding of dementia in adolescents will preserve the relationship between adolescents and people with dementia, in prospect of reducing psychological distress in both generations. Firstly, we conducted a questionnaire survey to caregiver of dementia subjects to clarify the association between people with dementia and their grandchild. Secondly, we performed seminars of dementia against elementary school kid and their parents, and against university students. Thirdly, we planned dementia seminar for kids and to create dementia leaflets for small kids. Finally dementia seminar was took place against school teachers and produced set of dementia quiz and example of education plan. Eighty-four subjects, out of 109, had at least one grandchild (77.1%) and quarter of them lived together. The prevalence of grandchildren age 19 and above were 50.2%. Frequency of seeing each other decreased by the age of subject with dementia. While most patients with dementia looked happy while seeing adolescents (94.5%), young people tend to be more non-reactive (26.0%) spending times together (p < 0.05). Dementia leaflets for small kids, how the seminars were carried on will be presented.