ABSTRACT
Background
This study aimed to clarify the structure of the individual matching support process within Team Orange, a community-based dementia support initiative in Japan.
Methods
Using reflexive thematic analysis, we qualitatively examined semi-structured interviews with seven coordinators who facilitate matching between people living with dementia and community supporters. We also analysed 14 implementation reports documenting actual support cases from community comprehensive support centres in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Results
Analysis identified seven themes constituting a cyclical support process: ‘diverse triggers for initiating matching’, ‘assessing needs and evaluating support potential’, ‘safe and sustainable support coordination’, ‘building trust relationships to facilitate matching’, ‘reaching consensus among people living with dementia, families and supporters’, ‘implementing individual matching support’ and ‘reviewing and readjusting toward sustainable support’.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that individual matching is not simply a combination of volunteer activities, but rather a support process in which the coordinator’s clinical reasoning and relational coordination cyclically support the agency of people living with dementia, family members and supporters. This practice has the potential to serve as an implementation model that flexibly connects informal community resources with individuals whose needs fall outside the scope of formal care services.