Factors Affecting Aspiration Levels of Caravan-mates for Enlightening about Dementia

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the aspiration levels of Caravan-mates CM who work to spread the knowledge of dementia to their society and factors affecting their aspiration levels.

Questionnaires were delivered by mail to 416 residents in northern urban area of Japan who took CM training classes aimed to spread the true knowledge of dementia through the work of the residents in the society. Analysis was performed on valid responses obtained from 212 individuals. (The attendees of the training classes are referred to as CM below.) Results were as follows:

1) Seventy-five percent of CM hoped to continue their volunteer work and about forty percent of CM the volunteers had become a lecturer,sharing the knowledge they gained from the classes to other residents of the society

2) CM who thought there were a community care meeting and the regular meeting of CM, and it cooperated with other organizations want to continue activity.

3) By multivariate logistic analysis, it was clear that the aspiration levels of volunteers were high right after they had taken their classes, and that the more they enjoyed their volunteer work, the more they hoped to continue

As a result, it is important for CM to take their volunteer work as an activity of enjoyment and an opportunity to learn. By enriching the content of the CM training classes, the aspiration levels of the attendees right after the classes are kept high. Establishing a way to organize CM work and cooperate with other organizations is also crucial.