新聞稿（請即發佈）                                                         2012年2月28日

問卷調查發現 八成腦退化症家屬受訪者喜愛網上課程
高錕教授夫人及眾星齊齊出席力撐 「耆智同行」網站正式開動

首個華人社區專為腦退化症照顧者而設的網上課程

賽馬會耆智園於今天（二月二十八日）假沙田園址舉行「耆智同行」網站(ADcarer.com)啟動日暨腦退化症家屬調查報告公佈，承蒙高錕教授夫人高黃美芸女士、以及參與網站短片演出演員胡楓、何家勁及黎燕珊抽空出席，埸面熱鬧感人。

是日，活動由香港中文大學內科及藥物治療學系教授暨賽馬會耆智園總監郭志銳、香港中文大學前任校長、諾貝爾物理獎得主高錕教授夫人高黃美芸女士，以及賽馬會耆智園總經理何貴英女士主持簡單而隆重的「耆智同行」網站啓動儀式，當各位嘉賓把富有耆智精神的拚圖併貼後，象徵著這個專為腦退化症患者家屬而設的網站「耆智同行」網站終於啟動。其後，郭教授更向在場人士介紹網站的獨有內容，而為了令傳媒朋友對網站有更深入的了解，大會特別邀請家屬照顧者葉李淑儀女士及黎燕珊小姐，以使用者身份，分享該網站如何能協助他們在家中輕鬆獲取最新資訊之好處。

而為了能對患者家屬的需要有更全面諮詢，賽馬會耆智園於去年6月至2012年1月期間，訪問279名患者家屬，深入瞭解其需要。席中，郭志銳教授詳細講述是次調查結果（附件一），而為照顧患者家屬的需要，香港中文大學及賽馬會耆智園特別推出「耆智同行」網站，內容共分為：照顧技巧課程、輕鬆照顧課程及貼身支援課程，除此之外，網站內更有多媒體教材，協助家屬於網上自學，同步亦首推網上個案跟進服務，為本港家屬照顧者服務開創先河。而為了令內容更有趣味性及易於明白，賽馬會耆智園更邀請多位著名藝人包括：羅蘭、黎燕珊、王殷廷、胡楓及何家勁，演出當中四套短片。是日，當中有份演出的藝人胡楓及何家勁更親臨現場，分享拍攝期間的趣事及感受。最後，為答謝各單位支持，賽馬會耆智園總經理何貴英女士向所有製作單位頒贈紀念品並拍攝大合照留念。

香港中文大學內科及藥物治療學系教授暨賽馬會耆智園總監郭志銳教授表示：「網上課程能讓腦退化症照顧者靈活安排學習時間，即使足不出戶亦可增進有關知識和技巧，尤其適合一些須要長期留在家中的照顧者。我們期望透過『耆智同行』網站，能讓照顧者學懂處理患者的行為及心理症狀，加強他們對患者的理解及溝通，甚至有效控制腦退化症患者的病情，計劃長遠的照顧方案等，從而減輕他們的壓力。」
參與演出的胡楓表示：「提到腦退化症，很多人都好像很理解，但當要親力親為照顧病人時卻發現問題多多，不知從何入手。耆智園這輯短片教材除了有助大家深入明白腦退化症外，亦可徹底了解幫助病人的方法，避免患者病情惡化，非常有意義。」 ；至於長期在大陸拍攝的何家勁是次抽空來港參與拍攝亦表示：「腦退化症並不是只出現在長者身上的病症，即使是正值壯年，都有機會患上此症。賽馬會耆智園一直不遺餘力，積極把腦退化症的相關知識在社會普及，這不論對患者、照顧者或普羅大眾而言，都是難能可貴的事。」

身為患者家屬及參與短片演出的黎燕珊亦分享道：「現今社會大眾看腦退化症已較開放和正面，很高興看到像耆智園這樣的中心，為病患家屬提供一個平台，搜集有關此病的資訊，相信只要家人多站在病患者的立場想想，給予瞭解和體諒，便可好好照顧他們。我是過來人，明白到病患者的家人亦很需要支援，耆智園所提供一站式服務，能讓家屬們不再徬徨，絕對值得我們支持，若政府能多撥捐資源發展這方面的服務便更佳。」

賽馬會耆智園特別鳴謝下列各單位的支持及參與（排名不分先後）：

• 香港中文大學前校長高錕教授
• 高黃美芸女士
• 香港理工大學應用社會科學系副教授區美蘭博士
• 醫院管理局沙田醫院副顧問醫生李舜華醫生
• 郭匡義律師行郭婉琳律師

助行器使用及扶抱技巧

• 唐卿女士

影音教材

• 聲音導航~雷霆881商業電台

有關賽馬會耆智園
賽馬會耆智園是一所專注推動腦退化症綜合服務的本地機構，由2000年開始提供日間護理、短期住宿、訓練支援及專業評估等一站式服務，希望可以紓緩腦退化症患者家屬的身心壓力，以及向腦退化症患者提供適當的社交及心理活動，減慢認知能力的衰退速度。詳情請瀏覽www.jccpa.org.hk。

有關「耆智同行」網上課程(ADcarer.com)
為協助家屬掌握照顧技巧，減輕照顧壓力，香港中文大學銳意發展以腦退化症患者的家屬為對象的網上培訓課程，讓家屬能得到切實的協助。故此，香港中文大學於2010年3月14日，舉辦 了「『與高錕教授同行』中大步行籌款日」，又透過香港中文大學知識轉移基金，撥款贊助網頁部分經費。耆智園深明大部分照顧者都希望盡力照顧好患者。針對想更瞭解腦退化症及相關照顧技巧的照顧者，耆智園設立了「照顧技巧課程」，內容涵蓋診斷、照顧，以至未來長遠計劃及安排等，全面探索各種照顧事宜，讓家屬能更從容地處理各種照顧疑難及不同階段的照顧需要。對於為照顧壓力所苦的家屬，耆智園設計了「輕鬆照顧課程」，讓照顧者透過各種練習和技巧，調整自己的心態，減少內心的矛盾，從而能夠有效地應用各種照顧技巧，減輕壓力。至於深受患者的行為及心理症狀困擾的家屬，耆智園則推出了「貼身支援課程」，跟進家屬及患者的情況九星期，務求令照顧者掌握一套方法，去減輕患者的症狀，並提供情緒支援，讓家屬可以在課程完結後，有能力自行解決常見的照顧問題。耆智園特地邀請了多名演員及電台節目主持參與「耆智同行」的教材製作，令網站內容更生動有趣。

有關腦退化症
腦退化症是與大腦認知能力衰退有關的病症。患者會逐漸失去記憶力及其他認知功能，如學習、理解、語言運用、方向感及判斷力等。本港目前已至少有七萬多位患者，雖然此症患者多屬老年人，但65歲或以下的人士也可能患上腦退化症，而發病率亦會隨年齡而增加。因此隨着香港人口老化，腦退化症患者將越來越多。

發稿：賽馬會耆智園                     
代行：一口田有限公司
賽馬會耆智園訓練及推廣經理Miss Eunice Hui 2636-6323 
傳媒查詢：Miss Jackie Liu 9197-6791/3583-3100        電郵：info@seedland.hk

For Immediate Release                                                          28th February, 2012                                                                                                                              

ADCarer.com website launch
Survey identified substantial demand for E-learning resources for
caregivers of demented person
 
As the population ages, an increasing number of people will suffer from dementia, and the number of dementia caregivers will have to increase as well. When dementia advances, caregivers will need to tackle various changes and difficulties when looking after patients. For many families, essential issues that arise during the caregiving process include finding ways to ease the heavy pressure of taking care of somebody with dementia, continuing to look after the person for years, dealing with caregiving concerns for other senior family members and relatives, and keeping harmony in the family.

To help families develop caregiving skills and ease their pressure, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing (JCCPA) have developed an online training program “ADcarer.com”, for family caregivers of people with cognitive loss to obtain suitable and practical aid. Against this background, the CUHK organised the “Walk with Professor Kao” CUHK Walkathon on 14th March, 2010 to raise fund. The CUHK Knowledge Transfer Unit Project Fund has also sponsored professional teams to provide other forms of aid to family caregivers.

The website consists of three parts: 1) Caregiving Skills Program, 2) Caregiving Made Easy Program and 3) Intensive Support Program. The programs cover both the traditional disease model and the health model, gaining a lot of attention for the way they combine positive psychology, neuroscience psychology, cognitive behavior theory, rational emotive behavior therapy, the Satir Model, grief counselling, personality typology and coaching skills. With a focus on both theory and practice, the approach encompasses how to handle and prevent problems, thereby helping caregivers face and tackle difficulties and pressure, as well as indirectly enhancing the living quality of patients and building up a harmonious relationship between patients and caregivers. This will start a new page for caregivers of dementia patients in Hong Kong. For more information about the website, please find in Appendix A.

A launch ceremony for the website was held today at the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing, Shatin. The Honorary Guest Mrs. Gwen May-wan, the wife of Professor Charles Kao, Professor Timothy Kwok Chi-yui, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK and Director of JCCPA, and Ms. Florence Ho Kwai-ying, General Manager of JCCPA officiated at the ceremony.

Results of a survey on family caregivers’ preferences on online dementia-related education (Dementia e-learning) program were also announced in the event. Nearly 90% of the respondents reported to experience caregiving stress after talking up the caring responsibility concerning their demented family member. Around 80% of the respondents show interest in taking part in dementia E-learning program. This indicates there is a great demand to develop E-learning platform for the general public to acquire dementia-related information, particularly the caregivers of demented persons. Full details of the findings can be found in Appendix B.

Renowned actors and actresses showed their support and participated in the making of the educational videos.

Mr. Kenny HO Ka-ging said, “Dementia sufferers are not only limited to the elderly. Indeed, young people also have the chance in suffering from such illness. The JCCPA has spared no effort in promoting the professional dementia-related knowledge and the skills of helping dementia sufferer. It is obvious that not only sufferers and caregivers can be benefited, but also the general public.”

Mr. WOO Fung said, “Whenever we talk about dementia, most people seem to have fully understood about it. However, when it comes to the time they need to take care of their demented relative, they often feel helpless and not really know how to handle. This series of eductational videos aim to enhance the caregivers’ knowledge of dementia, and thus to retard the disease progression. I think it is very meaningful.”

Ms. Eva LAI Yin-shan shared, “The general public tends to hold positive and enlightened attitude towards dementia nowadays. I am pleased to see that JCCPA has built up a platform for the caregivers to gather useful information. As long as the caregivers stay considerated and try to think in the sufferers’ way, I believe they can take good care of demented persons. As an ex-caregiver, I understand the caregivers’ needs for local supporting services. The JCCPA offers one-stop services for caregivers, in order to relieve their anxiety which definitely deserves our support. It would be great if the government can spend more resources for developing this kind of services.”

JCCPA thanks the following parties for participating in the making of ADCarer.com:

• Professor Charles K. KAO, Former Vice-Chancellor, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Recipient of Nobel Prize in Physics
• Mrs. Gwen KAO May-wan, the wife of Professor Charles K. KAO
• Dr. Alma AU May-lan, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Social Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Dr. Jenny LEE Shun-wah, Associate Consultant, Shatin Hospital, the Hospital Authority
• Ms. Sophia KWOK Yuen-lam, Solicitor, Jesse H. Y. Kwok & Company

Actors

• Ms. Helena LAW Lan
• Mr. WOO Fung
• Ms. Eva LAI Yin-shan
• Mr. Kenny HO Ga-ging
• Ms. Edith WONG
• Wai Yin Association

Voice Over Talents

• Radio 881, Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Co., Ltd.
• Ms. Denise MAK
• Ms. Stella LEUNG
• Mr. Eric CHAN
• Mr. Kevin HUI
• Ms. Sandra CHOI
• Ms. Maria LEUNG
• Mr. LEE Kam
• Mr. Daryl DOO
• Ms. CHAN Mo Yin
• Ms. Winnie WU
• Use of Mobility Aids and Transfer
• Ms. TONG Hing

About Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing
The JCCPA is dedicated to improving care for people with dementia in Hong Kong. In order to delay the decline in cognitive ability and encourage the sufferers to maintain normal social activities, various services including day care service, respite service, home-based training, and memory clinic are provided since 2000. Moreover, caregiver support is available for relieving different kinds of stress among family members of the sufferers.

About Dementia
Dementia is an illness that entails the loss of cognitive ability. In dementia, the earliest and most prominent feature is usually memory loss, resulting in forgetfulness. Other symptoms include difficulties with language, getting lost, disorientation, inability to cope with daily activities and physical care, mood changes and behavioural problems. There are now at least seventy thousands of people suffering from dementia in Hong Kong. Rates of dementia increase with ageing. Although patients with this disease are mostly elderly, people under 65-year-old may also suffer from dementia. With the ageing of the population, it is not surprising that more people will suffer from dementia in Hong Kong.

Released by: Seedland International Limited
On Behalf of the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing

Enquiries:
Ms. Eunice HUI, Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing (Tel: 2636-6323)
Ms. Jackie LIU, Seedland International Limited (Tel: 9197-6791/3583-3100)
Email: info@seedland.hk