Initial-phase Intensive Support Team (IPIST)

Yukihiko Washimi

National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology

IPIST was launched in 2012, and every municipality in Japan is required to set the team by 2018. The mission of IPIST is to organize supporting system for early detection and early diagnosis The IPIST arranges supports for those with dementia who did not receive medical nor long-term care to continue home-based care. Instead of post-intervention to treat worsened symptoms, the IPIST provides integrated and intensive supports based on prognosis in initial-phase of 6 months. The team also provides supports for families during the period of 6 months, the team should arrange the optimal services within the social resources in the community, and the team takes over the patient to the community services including General Physicians and other social resources. BPSD and Caregiver burden were ameliorated by the intervention of the team. The results suggest that the IPIST should be beneficial for continuation of home-based care and promotion of community-based care.

Address correspondence to Dr. Yukihiko Washimi, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (430, 7-chome Morioka-cho, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan)