JCCPA is committed to helping professionals meet the challenges of dementia through facilitating evidence-based research into the needs of the elderly with dementia, the causes of dementia and the study of interventions against dementia.

1 Effectiveness of cognitive training on ageing The cognitive functioning of our brain is going downhill while ageing. In order to delay the rate of deterioration, certain cognitive exercises such as mnemonic techniques and reasoning training have been formulated to combat against future cognitive loss. This study will investigate the effectiveness of these cognitive training exercises. - Kwok, T., Yip, A., Cheng, S., & Ho, F. (2010, March). The effects of cognitive training in older adults: a randomized controlled trail. Presented at the 25th International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International, Thessaloniki, Greece. 2 Improving sleep quality of elderly with dementia by using acupuncture Poor sleep quality is common among elderly with dementia. Other than taking sleeping pills, some claimed that acupuncture has been shown promising to improve sleep quality. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture to the sleep problems of elderly with dementia. 3 The effectiveness of telephone-delivered psycho-education intervention to caregivers of people with dementia Telephone is proved to be a cost-effective way to deliver caregiving support to caregivers. This study will investigate the effectiveness of a telephone-delivered psycho-education program in alleviating the stress and burden of the family caregivers. 4 A survey of foreign domestic helper of demented people in Hong Kong One third of demented people are looked after by full-time foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. We therefore would like to have a better understanding of their working condition, self efficacy at work, job satisfaction and perceived needs.

1 Effectiveness of daycare on dementia (2009) This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of daycare to people with dementia and their caregivers. Via structured training programs and case management, the result revealed that daycare could maintain the cognitive ability and quality of life of clients with dementia. It also effectively reduced the burden of family caregivers. - Yip, A., Kwok, T., Ho, F., & Li, J. (2009, November). The effectiveness of day care for dementia people and their family caregivers – the JCCPA experience. Presented at the 17th Annual Congress of Gerontology, Hong Kong. [Download PowerPoint presentation] - Press Release: Effectiveness of daycare services for the dementia population in Hong Kong, (September, 2008). [Download press release] 2 Knowledge of dementia among health and social care undergraduates in Hong Kong (2009) There is a widespread concern whether pre-licensure health and social care professionals receive adequate training before serving the dementia population. This study assessed the knowledge of dementia among undergraduates in the health and social care professions in Hong Kong. The result showed that the students were generally poor in dementia knowledge. We suggest that adequate knowledge of dementia could be achieved among the future professionals by strengthening their self-efficacy in dementia care and increasing hours of dementia education. - Lam, K.C., Yip, A., Kwok, T., & Ho, F. (2009, November). Knowledge of dementia among undergraduates in the health and social care professions in Hong Kong. Presented at the 17th Annual Congress of Gerontology, Hong Kong. [Download PowerPoint presentation] - Press release: Knowledge of dementia among undergraduates in the health and social care professions in Hong Kong, (September, 2008). [Download press release] 3 Effect of calligraphy on cognitive status during ageing (2008) Literature has shown that calligraphy benefits cognitive functioning and quality of life of normal and clinical populations. In this study, we found that regular calligraphy practice would preserve the cognitive ability (e.g. orientation) of older adults. - Yip, E., Yuen, K., Li, J., Ho, F., Lam, S., Kao, S., & Kwok, T. (2008, November). Effectiveness of calligraphy group in retaining cognitive function during ageing. Poster presentation at the 16th Annual Congress of Gerontology, Hong Kong. 4 Who would benefit from memory training? A pilot study examining the ceiling effect of concurrent cognitive stimulation (2008) This research focused on concurrent cognitive training as a possible confound to the effects of memory training. Findings suggested that older persons without concurrent cognitive stimulation was able to benefit from memory training in the form of improved initiation and memory functioning. On the other hand, regular concurrent cognitive training leveled off the effect of memory exercise. 5 Treatment efficacy of coordination training in the ageing population (2008) Previous studies showed that physical exercise may stimulate cognitive processing. As such, this study explored the effect of coordination exercise training in older adults. The results showed that coordination exercise can improve older adults’ cognitive functioning. Findings indicated that exercise in general may be useful to retain elderly cognitive functioning. - Ting, K., Yuen, K., Chung, E., Li, J., Ho, F., & Kwok, T. (2008, November). Effectiveness of physical exercise in the ageing population. Oral presentation at the 16th Annual Congress of Gerontology, Hong Kong. [Download PowerPoint presentation] 6 Application of drama therapy on dementia (2008) This study explored the effect of drama therapy on individuals with early stage dementia in alleviating their emotions and facilitating acceptance. A ten-session drama program was provided to patients in JCCPA. No significant change in their self efficacy score was found. 7 Treatment efficacy of animal assisted therapy in patients with dementia (2008) Although animal assisted therapy is a popular non-drug treatment in dementia-related behavioural problems, empirical data are scarce. As such, we conducted the study to evaluate the therapeutic effect of animal assisted therapy on older people with dementia. After 8-12 therapy sessions, participants showed higher level of activity, higher frequency of pleasant emotions, and social interactions. In line with previous studies, our findings suggest that animal-assisted therapy may be useful to alleviate behavioural problems and symptoms of elderly dementia patients. 8 Getting lost in the community: a phone survey on dementia population in Hong Kong (2007) Difficulties in finding ways, disoriented, or even getting lost in the community are symptoms of dementia. Phone interviews were conducted to caregivers of older persons aged 60-85 with suspected or diagnosed dementia. Results showed that the prevalence rate of getting lost exceeded 30% among elderly with dementia. Higher risk of getting lost occurred to people with greater cognitive decline while mobility maintained. The getting lost experience had brought significant distress to more than 40% of the family. - Kwok, T.C.Y., Yuen, K.S.L., Ho, F.K.Y., & Chan, W.M. (2010). Getting lost in the community: a phone survey on the community-dwelling demented people in Hong Kong. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(4), 427 - 432. [Download abstract] - Yuen, K., Kwok, T., Ho, F., & Li, J. (2007, November). Getting lost in the community: a phone survey on the aged population in Hong Kong. Oral presentation at the 15th Annual Congress of Gerontology, Hong Kong. [Download PowerPoint presentation] - Press release: Getting lost in the community: a phone survey on the dementia population in Hong Kong, (2007, September). [Download press release] 9 Treatment efficacy of music therapy on patients with dementia (2007) This study investigated the effect of music therapy in mitigating depressive symptoms among older people with dementia. Qualitative analysis on individual behavior during treatment session was performed. Findings suggested that individuals with previous experience of music or musical instruments may benefit from music therapy. 10 Life satisfaction among personal care worker delivering dementia care (2007) This study examined the overall life satisfaction of personal care workers (PCWs) delivering dementia care in elderly daycare centres in Hong Kong. Results demonstrated that perceived adequacy of training and self-efficacy in dementia care are robust predictors for PCW’s life satisfaction. - Yan, E., Kwok, T., Tang, C., & Ho, F. (2007). Factors associated with life satisfaction of personal care workers delivering dementia care in day care centers. Social Work and Health Care, 46(1), 37-45. [Download abstract] 11 Case management model to improve quality of life of people with mild dementia (RCT): preliminary results (2006) This study evaluated the effectiveness of case management to mobilize resources within families and dementia patients in the community. The result showed that case management for Chinese persons with mild dementia outpatients did not show significant effects in reducing caregiver burden, but encouraged family caregivers to seek external support. - Lam, L.C.W., Lee, J.S.W., Chung, J.C.C., Lau, A., Woo, J., & Kwok, T.C.Y. (2010). A randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of case management model for community dwelling older persons with mild dementia in Hong Kong. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(4), 395-402. [Download abstract] 12 Attitudes towards life sustaining treatment among family caregivers of older Chinese with dementia (2006) Deferring decisions to family members is common among elderly with dementia. However, surrogate decision makers often lack knowledge and principles to decide life sustaining treatment (LST) options for the patients. This study examined attitudes towards LST in these family caregivers. They displayed poor knowledge about LST. Most were reluctant to forgo treatments. More dialogue and education are needed about end of life care in the early phase of dementia. - Kwok, T., Twinn, S., & Yan, E. (2007). The attitudes of Chinese family caregivers of older people with dementia towards life sustaining treatments. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 58(3), 256-262. [Download abstract] 13 Nurses’ attitudes towards restraint-use among dementia elderly patients (2006) This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of restraint use in hospital medical wards in Hong Kong. Results showed that more than two thirds of nursing staff reported using restraint or force in the past three months. To reduce restraint use in patient care, steps needed to be taken to reduce burnout feelings and to foster a sense of social support among nurses. - Yan, E., Kwok, T., Lee, D., & Tang, C. (2009). The prevalence and correlates of the use of restraint and force on hospitalized older people. Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness, 1, 147-155. [Download abstract] - Yan, E., Kwok, T., Ho, F., & Li, J. (2006, November). Nurses’ attitudes towards restraint-use among dementia elderly patients. Presented at the 14th Annual Congress of Gerontology, Hong Kong. [Download PowerPoint presentation] - Press release: Nurses’ attitudes towards restraint-use among dementia elderly patients, (2006, September). [Download press release] 14 Misconception about dementia and its effects on treatment seeking tendency (2005) Self-constructed questions were used to assess dementia knowledge and treatment seeking tendency of Hong Kong residents. Findings showed that respondents had a variety of misconceptions about dementia and its symptoms. Respondents who had more misconceptions about dementia were less willing to seek for treatment options. We suggested to strengthen fellow citizen’s understanding of dementia by organizing public educational programs. The result would assist departments and organizations concerned in determining their course of action. - Yan, E., Wong, A., Chan, W.M., & Kwok, T. (2006). Misconceptions about dementia and its implications for willingness to seek treatment and knowledge in dementia related information. The Hong Kong Practitioner, 28, 108-113.[Download abstract] - Yan, E., Kwok, T., Ho, F., & Li, J. (2005, November). Misconception about dementia and its effects on treatment seeking tendency. Presented at the 13th Annual Congress of Gerontology, Hong Kong. [Download PowerPoint presentation] - Press release: Misconception about dementia and its effects on treatment seeking tendency, (2005, September). [Download press release]

1 Kwok, T.C.Y., Yuen, K.S.L., Ho, F.K.Y., & Chan, W.M. (2010). Getting lost in the community: a phone survey on the community-dwelling demented people in Hong Kong. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(4), 427 - 432. 2 Lam, L.C.W., Lee, J.S.W., Chung, J.C.C., Lau, A., Woo, J., & Kwok, T.C.Y. (2010). A randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of case management model for community dwelling older persons with mild dementia in Hong Kong. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(4), 395-402. 3 Yan, E., Kwok, T., Lee, D., & Tang, C. (2009). The prevalence and correlates of the use of restraint and force on hospitalized older people. Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness, 1, 147-155. 4 Kwok, T., Twinn, S., & Yan, E. (2007). The attitudes of Chinese family caregivers of older people with dementia towards life sustaining treatments. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 58(3), 256-262. 5 5. Yan, E., Kwok, T., Tang, C., & Ho, F. (2007). Factors associated with life satisfaction of personal care workers delivering dementia care in day care centers. Social Work and Health Care, 46(1), 37-45. 6 6. Yan, E., Wong, A., Chan, W.M., & Kwok, T. (2006). Misconceptions about dementia and its implications for willingness to seek treatment and knowledge in dementia related information. The Hong Kong Practitioner, 28, 108-113.

Any local or oversea scholar wants to share their research, please e-mail to research@jccpahk.com or at 2636 6323 contact our research officer.