| Learning Objective #1: Articulate the potential and benefits of working with diverse project partners | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify key issues in developing and implementing a collaborative project with diverse partners |
Hong Kong has 30,000 dementia patients aged 65 and over, 40% of whom have a tendency to wander. Wandering is therefore one of the more challenging problems in caring for people with dementia. Public awareness and understanding of the phenomenon is very important because the survival of missing persons depends on the implementation of timely and effective search and rescue efforts. This case-control study (N = 45) aimed, first, to develop an understanding of the profiles and phenomenon of older persons wandering from their residences by exploring the patterns of occurrence; and second, to identify elements of an effective search strategy for the caregivers. Twenty subjects possessed such a history, while 25 did not. The demographic data, medical history, history and pattern of wandering, and lifestyles of the subjects were collected through face-to-face interviews. Their stage of dementia, cognitive abilities, and level of agitation were assessed using the Chinese versions of the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, the Mini-mental State Examination, and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. The results reviewed the complex picture of the person who wandered and the caregivers' subsequent actions although there was no significant statistically difference between the case group and the control group in most of the measures. The partners of this project included community service agencies and the police. Through working with partnership agencies from disparate backgrounds, the team gained valuable knowledge and experience in collaborative projects of this nature. One crucial element in cultivating partnerships is perseverance. Another major area warranting attention is maintaining open communication channels. The team also came to learn of the values and potential benefits in such a partnership. For instance, the police made further proposals for collaborating to educate the public. As the project continues, it will likely expand to include other sectors or service agencies.
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