Ten messages from people with dementia: selfperception of people with dementia in Hong Kong

Background: Ageing population and dementia are alarming issues in Hong Kong. The term 'dementia' in Asia including China, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea was translated as'Chi Dai Zheng', which carries a negative connotation. In Hong Kong, the institutionalisation rate of the ageing population is 6.8%, which is one of the highest. Over 50% of residents in residential care homes experience different levels of neurocognitive impairment. To bring a new dementia care culture, future dementia care services should collaborate the care plan with the voices from people with dementia. Methods: Qualitative research with interpretivism, understanding the daily interactions between people with dementia as well as the caring staff and thematic analysis were applied. 10 people with dementia and 10 caring staff in the subvented and non-subvented residential care homes were invited to participate. One session of training workshop was provided to the caring staff based on the results of interviews, and 2 follow-up focus groups were conducted. Results: People with dementia experienced the 'puzzling self' as they were living in-between the self-perceived reality and others-perceived reality. Ten messages from people with dementia were concluded by Kate Swaffer: I can listen and understand what you say, please do not discuss me in front of me; I am not deaf and it is disrespectful to me.", I can perceive myself and hear and see how others perceive me, please do not think that I do not care who I am or how you perceive me.", I will compare with the other residents and therefore, sometimes I do not think that I have dementia; this is my new normal". The new interpretation of presenting behaviour among people with dementia as unmet needs were found (B+/B- & C+/C-). Conclusion: The findings highlight how the external factors affect the self-perception of people with dementia, especially the interactions between the caring staff and people with dementia. All outsiders should learn from the insiders' perspective in order to co-construct the best caring relationship regarding 'synchronisation' of people with dementia.