The Japanese Society for Dementia Care Official Site

Masahiro Shigeta

　Since 2018, I have been the chairman of the Japanese Society for Dementia Care. It's a great honor, but at the same time, it's a very heavy responsibility. I will introduce the issues that we have started to work on.

　Firstly, we would like to be an academic society that stimulates and continues to enhance ethics and professionalism regarding the care and support of academic members and dementia care specialists (hereinafter referred to as specialists). When people living with dementia conclude that they should be cared for in this way, or that their families should be supported in this way, care will recede and deteriorate. The academic society wants to foster an attitude of continuing to think that there may be a way to be closer to the person's thoughts and emotions and that there may be an attitude of valuing dignity more.

　Secondly, I considered improving the efficiency of academic society management. The many committees that have been organized are all necessary committees, but they have taken the plunge and consolidated and streamlined the organization. Community Care Activities, Family Support Committee, Dementia Measures Review Committee, Public Relations, Social Contribution Committee (Public Relations / Social Contribution Related) were integrated into the future vision Committee, Rights Advocacy Committee to Ethics Compliance Committee, The Question Preparation Committee (specialist / associate dementia care specialist) to The Dementia Care Specialist Certification Committee, and The Certification Exam Question Preparation Committee (senior dementia care specialist / hereinafter, senior specialist) to Senior Professional Certification Committee. On the other hand, we decided to have the flexibility to organize new committees as needed. Each committee has its own background and significance. It may not be all good to change it, but in order to distinguish between good points and bad points, we will run the committee with a new policy this term.

　Thirdly, we will implement efforts to make more people aware of this society. the Japanese Society for Dementia Care has 28,408 academic members (including 121 facilities / group members) and 35,461 specialists (including 1,011 senior specialists) (as of October 2018). I think that there are many such people who want to be involved in dementia support in the community. We hope that these people will be able to get to know academic societies and diplomas widely by playing an active role in a way that can be seen by the general public. From this year, with the cooperation of companies, we have started a business where specialists can consult with people with dementia and their families in the area. In addition to this, we are waiting for proposals that academic members and diplomas can play an active role.

　Fourthly, I would like to review the training for academic members and diplomas. The academic society holds workshops and educational lectures about 80 times a year, and while some people cannot participate even if they wish, there are times when vacant seats are conspicuous at the venue. I thought that the holding time and place might not meet my needs.

　Therefore, we plan to hold the event at a different time and place than before. For example, we planned to hold a night seminar at a time when participants could rush after work on Weekday. Through these efforts, I wanted to renew my diploma qualification, but I would like to reduce the number of people who lose their qualification due to lack of opportunities to earn renewal credits.

　Fifthly, there are many countries overseas that want to develop dementia care specialists following the Japanese diploma system, and Japan's cooperation is required. Therefore, the International Federation of Dementia Care (International Federation of Dementia Care / Chairman: Akira Homma) was established, and the Society has decided to provide technical cooperation for the development of an overseas diploma system. As a result, the Japanese diploma qualification also becomes an international dementia care qualification. the Japanese Society for Dementia Care would like to utilize his 20 years of experience to contribute to the development of dementia care in Asian countries and around the world.

　In the future, we will continue to hold academic societies to deepen people's understanding of dementia and the elderly, reduce differences and prejudices as much as possible, and live with dementia, people without dementia, people with disabilities, people with disabilities. I would like to work toward the creation of a community where even those who do not have it can seek their own life with hope. To that end, we sincerely request the understanding and cooperation of each academic member and diploma, as well as frank opinions and guidance.

Establishment	Since December, 2000
The number of Members	26298 (as of Dec 1, 2020)

Individual member:t	Annual membership fee: 5,000 JPY
A facility or organization member	Annual membership fee: 30,000 JPY Three persons can be registered per one facility or organization. Registered persons can be changed as required.
A supporting member:t	Annual membership fee: 100,000 JPY Organizations or individuals supporting our activities.
Fiscal yeart	April 1 to March 31 of the next year