[Issues in Initial-phase Intensive Support Team for Dementia Experience in Kobe City].

We report the activity of the initial-phase intensive support team for dementia in Kobe City. The severity of dementia of the people who received the support was moderate in two-thirds of them. It took more than one year for over 50% of the people to receive support from the initial identification of dementia to involvement by the support team. Approximately three- quarters of the individuals were admitted to long-term care services facilities after receiving the service provided by the support team. A diagnosis of dementia was obtained for only about half of the people. Although there are many issues regarding the support team, we concluded that this activity is very beneficial for dementia people and their families, and it should be extended everywhere in Japan.