Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) and Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University (FMRH) partnered to hold a joint global expert meeting, “Thailand-Japan Dementia Conference – Redesigning Dementia for People with Dementia” on March 6, 2019.

Longer life expectancies have made aging an issue in every country around the world including Thailand and Japan. In Japan, there have been efforts to construct a Community-based Integrated Care System that enables elderly citizens to live with peace of mind in familiar places. This need is also recognized in the field of dementia care, where the development of dementia-friendly communities is being promoted in each region to help those with dementia to stay in comfortable, familiar environments as much as possible. To build such communities, it is essential that the diverse needs of people living with dementia and their families are identified and responded to effectively.

It is from this viewpoint that experts from Japan and Thailand discussed their experiences in initiatives made domestically and abroad and shared challenges and visions of the future to accelerate the creation of dementia-friendly communities and advance the goal of making effective care for people with dementia a reality. Everyone participant at the event and in the audience took part in a lively exchange of opinions. It was a valuable opportunity for Japan and Thailand to gather suggestions for the ideal form of dementia care in the future. HGPI and FMRH were also able to verify their shared vision to build a continued cooperative relationship in this field.

■ Organizers: Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University (FMRH) (Thailand)
Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) (Japan)

■ Program: (Titles omitted)
12:30- Doors Open
13:00-13:05 Opening Remarks/VTR Introduction
　Singhara Na Ayudhaya (Deputy Dean for International Relations, FMRH)
　Ryoji Noritake (CEO, HGPI)

13:05-13:10 Token Ceremony/Group Photo

Presentation from Japan
13:10-13:20 Presentation 1: National Dementia Strategy in Japan
　Rie Sato (Deputy Director, General Affairs Division and Office for Dementia Policy, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW))

13:25-13:35 Presentation 2: Promoting Dementia-Friendly Communities
　Takehito Tokuda (Board Member, Dementia Friendship Club)

13:40-13:50 Presentation 3: Post Diagnostic Support for People with Dementia and their Care Partners
　Kentaro Horibe (Head, Cooperation System, Center for Comprehensive Care and Research on Memory Disorders, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG))

13:50-14:00 Q&A for Presentations

Presentation from Thailand
14:10-14:30 Presentation 1: From Memory Clinic to Specialized Long Term Care in Dementia Friendly Community
　Sirintorn Chansirikanjana (Assistant Professor, FMRH)

14:35-14:55 Presentation 2: Dementia Care System in Thailand –MOPH Policies-
　Sakarn Bunnag (Director, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH))

14:55-15:05 Q&A for Presentations

15:05-15:30 Roundtable Discussion: Redesigning Dementia for People with Dementia