A Systematic Review of Occupational Therapy Care Programs for Dementia Patients: Accomplishments and Suggestions for Improvement

Abstract

The primary goal of the present study was to critically review previous research on an increasingly important role that occupational therapy (OT) plays in dementia care. OT interventions such as cognitive training, memory strategies, and engagement in meaningful activities have been shown to improve cognitive function in individuals with dementia. The present study found that (1) strength based, (2) patient-centered, and (3) caregiver-collaborative OT interventions were significantly more effective in helping dementia patients maintain and/or improve their cognitive abilities (e.g., attention, memory, problem-solving, and decision-making skills) as well as their functional ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living including bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, and managing finances. On the contrary, there is a growing need for providing occupational therapists with tailored training and education programs designed specifically for their intervention services for clients with dementia. Evidence-based interventions also need to be applied to address the specific needs of individuals with dementia. Given an exponentially growing number of dementia patients each year worldwide, it is imperative to have affordable and effective OT intervention services. The current study suggests a holistic OT intervention approach based on the biopsychosocial theoretical framework as the future of OT in dementia care.