Empowering individuals with early dementia and their carers: An exploratory study in the Chinese context

Abstract

This article discusses an early dementia program developed for sufferers and family carers in a Chinese context. Instead of replicating formats of similar programs developed in Western countries, this program considered cultural issues and caring values that are unique to Chinese people. Its main objective was to empower sufferers and carers through educational activities and support programs. Observations and interviews were used for program evaluation. The program creates a "win-win" situation in which both parties experienced pleasurable feelings and developed a close relationship. It also highlights the values of "meaningful occupation" in dementia care. Furthermore, the program broadens our understanding of needs and concerns of sufferers and carers at early stages, which are deemed important to develop continuous dementia programs along the disease course.

An international systematic review of dementia caregiving interventions for Chinese families

“…A third strategy was including both care recipients and other family members in intervention activities (14%). Researchers acknowledged that in Chinese families, multiple family members were involved in caregiving for persons with dementia, due to filial piety and family harmony 44,45,49 …”

“…family members were involved in caregiving for persons with dementia, due to filial piety and family harmony. 44,45,49 Several interventions used cultural examples, scenarios and information that were specific to the local context (14%). These included T A B L E 2 (Continued) Given the multifaceted nature of some interventions, double-or multi-coding was allowed for primary entity targeted, primary domain targeted, methods of delivery, and structure to capture multiple characteristics of components within an intervention.…”

“…One intervention evaluated outcomes qualitatively and caregivers reported: pleasurable experiences, improved communication and relationship with care recipients, commitment to care, and a dilemma of confidence and worries. 49 Another intervention was a therapy case report in which the caregiver did not appear to be able to engage in treatment due to fear of losing face. 65 Three interventions included…”

Mild cognitive impairment: Conceptual, assessment, ethical, and social issues

“…The use of support groups for elderly persons in the first stages of AD started to develop in the middle to late 90’s (Yale 1995; Goldsilver and Grunier 2001). Several evaluation studies showed them to be beneficial to the participants, who expressed satisfaction especially with the information and knowledge they received regarding the disease and its treatment (Chung 2001; Goldsilver and Grunier 2001; Werner 2003). Based on these findings, the use of support groups for persons with MCI should be considered.…”

Clinical relevance of activities meaningful to parents of preterm infants with very low birth weight: A focus group study

“…However, as described in the introduction, initial evidence has been gathered showing a potential link between engagement in meaningful activities and parental and child health and wellbeing [ 23 , 24 , 45 ]. Moreover, the therapeutic use of meaningful activities has been found to improve patient and caregiver health and wellbeing [ 46 , 47 ]. Considering the potentially favorable effect of parents’ various meaningful activities on their preterm infants’ health and wellbeing, such activities could be clinically relevant in the context of neonatal care.…”