Effects of Community Occupational Therapy on Quality of Life, Mood, and Health Status in Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract.Background: Dementia is known as a major public health problem affecting both patients and caregivers, and placing a high financial strain upon society. In community-dwelling patients, it is important to support informal caregivers in order to help them sustain their demanding role. Previous reviews about effectiveness of such supporting strategies often included a small number of studies, focused only on particular supportive types, particular outcomes, or solely on caregivers. Objective: A general systematic review was conducted investigating effectiveness of different supportive strategies on at least the well-being of the caregiver or the care-recipient. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Web of Science and PubMed. An adapted version of the Downs and Black (1998) checklist was used to assess methodological quality. A new classification was developed to group different types of caregiver support. Results: Fifty-three papers met the inclusion criteria. Although 87% of the interventions were to some extent effective, methods and findings were rather inconsistent. Psychoeducational interventions generally lead to positive outcomes for caregivers, and delay permanent institutionalization of care-recipients. Cognitive behavioral therapy decreases dysfunctional thoughts among caregivers. Occupational therapy decreases behavioral problems among patients and improves self-efficacy of caregivers. In general, those interventions tailored on individual level generate better outcomes. Comparative research on respite care was very rare. Conclusions: Despite methodological inconsistency, supporting caregivers appears to be an effective strategy often improving well-being of caregiver or care-recipient and resulting in additional benefits for society. However, there is a need for more research on the (cost)-effectiveness of respite care.

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“…For both caregivers and recipients mood, quality of life, and health status improved. In carerecipients daily functioning improved [51,89].…”

Section: Individual Based Occupational Therapy Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effectiveness of Supporting Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Systematic Review of Randomized and Non-Randomized Controlled Trials

Vandepitte

Noortgate

Putman

et al. 2016

JAD

107

118

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“…5 After the recommendations from the consensus conference were finalized, the results of a single-blind randomized controlled trial of community-based occupational therapy for older patients with mild to moderate dementia and their primary caregiver were published. [6][7][8] The therapy comprised environmental modifications, compensatory strategies for the patient, and training of the caregiver to use effective supervision, problemsolving and coping strategies to sustain the autonomy and social participation of the patient and the caregiver. After 10 one-hour sessions over 5 weeks, statistically significant improvements were seen in the short term (3 months) in the daily functioning of patients in the intervention group.…”

Section: Nonpharmacologic Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 5. Nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapy for mild to moderate dementia

Hogan¹,

Bailey²,

Black³

et al. 2008

Canadian Medical Association Journal

133

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“…Graff et al [8] reported that the COPE was effective for improving BPSD, especially depressive mood, among clients with dementia as well as the depressive mood among caregivers. Similarly, Gitlin et al [12] reported that the TAP was effective in improving the BPSD of clients with dementia, especially agitation and argumentation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, Graff and colleagues [7,8] went on to examine the program's effectiveness via a randomized controlled trial (Dutch study). The program comprised 10 one-hour occupational therapy sessions over five weeks, and included the use of devices to compensate for clients' cognitive decline as well as cognitive behavioral interventions for caregivers that aimed at improving coping behavior and supervision of clients.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of an Occupation-Based Home-Visit Program for Clients with Dementia and Caregivers: A Pilot Study

et al. 2017

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Several studies have been implemented on home-visit occupational therapy based on activities or occupations for clients with dementia and their caregivers, but all have been conducted abroad; none have taken place in Japan. Therefore, we performed a pilot study of the effectiveness of an occupation-based home-visit program for clients with dementia and their caregivers using single cohort design. The results of our analysis of participants' (n = 9) data indicated that the home-visit program could improve the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, particularly apathy, among clients with dementia, as well as caregivers' needs or what caregivers expected of clients. Additionally, the program tended to decrease caregivers' care burden. The implications of the study are discussed in light of further research on this program.

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Effects of Community Occupational Therapy on Quality of Life, Mood, and Health Status in Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Community occupational therapy should be advocated both for dementia patients and their caregivers, because it improves their mood, quality of life, and health status and caregivers' sense of control over life. Effects were still present at follow-up.

Cited by 235 publications

References 21 publications

Effectiveness of Supporting Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Systematic Review of Randomized and Non-Randomized Controlled Trials

Effectiveness of Supporting Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Systematic Review of Randomized and Non-Randomized Controlled Trials

Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 5. Nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapy for mild to moderate dementia

Effectiveness of an Occupation-Based Home-Visit Program for Clients with Dementia and Caregivers: A Pilot Study

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