Treatment of dementia in Iwate prefecture before and after the Great East-Japan Earthquake

Junko Takahashi

Morioka Tsunagi Onsen Hospital

In Iwate prefecture, the sufficiency of medical care, welfare, and long-term care was not constant throughout the region, and it was necessary to adapt the measures taken for dementia to each region.But in the Great East Japan Earthquake, top-down measures were taken to quickly set up a medical network in Iwate prefecture and reduce the regional disparities as much as possible.It was important to set up a system quickly and flexibly in rural areas according to the situation, and always share information between professionals of different specialties.Immediately after the catastrophic disaster, the measures against dementia failed.However, the measures taken to the local community original have come to fruition.

Address correspondence to Dr. Junko Takahashi, Morioka Tsunagi Onsen Hospital（64-9 Oirino,Tsunagi, Morioka City, Iwate 020-0055, Japan）