Outreach Support for Elderly People with Dementia: Difficulties Arising in Dyadic Relationships and Required Skills

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13937
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 08020:Social welfare-related
• Research Institution: Naruto University of Education
• Principal Investigator: Kawanishi Tomoya 鳴門教育大学, 大学院学校教育研究科, 准教授 (30824734)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 援助スキル / 地域包括支援センター / アウトリーチ / 認知症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and required skills for outreach to older adults with dementia who are not connected to medical and social services. The challenges of outreach were identified as the lack of established assistance skills, the staff and workplace structure of support organizations, and community development. The skills required include understanding the background behind not seeking help, assessment of the living environment through observation, and a willingness to work together to determine the direction of assistance through dialogue. In addition, the possibility of applying the findings on relationship building in ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) was demonstrated. Furthermore, it was shown that it is necessary to assign a separate support worker to intervene as necessary while overlooking the interaction between the support worker and the subject, and that support workers need to cooperate to promote support.

Free Research Field

臨床心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自ら支援を求めない認知症高齢者に対するアウトリーチについて、近年は認知症初期集中支援チームの設置など、制度面の整備が進んでいる。その一方で、アウトリーチで求められる援助スキルについては、いまだ検討が不十分である。こうした背景のもと、本研究は特に訪問場面における認知症高齢者とのやりとりで求められるスキルや条件を明らかにしており、アウトリーチを担う援助職の実践やそれを支える体制の整備に寄与しうると考えられる。