Person centered care model for people with dementia, supporting public education, research, and professional training in dementia care
Hong Kong people have the highest average life expectancy in the world. With longevity and the trend of ageing population, the prevalence of dementia in Hong Kong has been increasing rapidly in recent years. As early as 1997, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which has always attached great importance to the development of elderly welfare, had foreseen the urgency of developing a comprehensive care model for people with dementia in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust therefore made a major donation of HK$81,230,000 then to establish the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing (JCCPA) which aimed to provide comprehensive services and training for people with dementia, their families and care professionals, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong provided support and leadership for the centre, and the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong provided the venue.
JCCPA was put into service in June 2000 and has been operating on a self-financing model since. The centre aims to maintain cognitive function and quality of life of people with dementia by providing social stimulation through social and physical activities, and to reduce family caregiver stress. In addition, JCCPA provides dementia care training to family caregivers and care professionals. In collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and with the support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the centre has been active in dementia care research, public education and brain health promotion.