Title: Resources and demands survey of patients with cognitive disorder in Shanghai

Biography:

Since 2010, Fang Yuan has been studying and working at Shanghai Mental Health Centre, an affiliated hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Li Xia, a chief physician of the Department of Elder Psychiatry, was her supervisor during her postgraduate study. Her research and work includes valuation of cognitive function, doing research on the needs of cognitive impaired patients' families and making intervention plans for dementia patients. She now works in a research team which is dedicated to the consolidation and optimization of resources for dementia patients in Shanghai. So far, the research team has created a system, which is led by specialist physicians with the cooperation of general practitioners, nurses, social workers and senior care facilities, to diagnosis and takes care of dementia patients with reference to degrees of severity of their diseases.

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: In Shanghai China, cognitive disorders have caused heavy burdens to the patients' families and the society. Shanghai government has been gradually increasing investment in treatment of cognitive disorders to prepare for the aging society. It is necessary to understand the recovery resources which are currently available to patients with cognitive disorders and the assistance they actually need. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of those patients’ caregivers to find out the social support currently available to their families and the social resources they need urgently.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: We surveyed 90 caregivers via the internet to find out whether the cognitive impaired patients' families had   received   subsidies   or   services   from   the government.   We   also surveyed  40  caregivers  by  soliciting  their  replies  to  an  online  list  of demand, trying to understand the demand of cognitive disorder patients for  resources  in  seven  aspects  including  medical  support  and  financial Support (Figure 1).

Findings:  Our  survey  results  indicated  that  21  out  of  90  patients  had received governmental subsidies, 4.44% of them had received in-home medical care and 3.33% of them had been covered by long-term care insurance. Our survey revealed that the improvement in the skills of in- home caregivers, support from senior care facilities and medical support are needed the most. About 31.71% of these 40 families hoped that the doctors would prescribe the medicines treating dementia each time in a dose of sufficient for one month's taking.  31.71% of these families hoped that the government could recommend to them senior care facilities.

Conclusion  &  Significance:  Only  a  small  percentage  of  patients  with cognitive disorders have received  certain support  from the society. It is urgent to consolidate all resources including medical treatment and those available from local residential units.