What is Dementia?

Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday activities. While there is no cure for dementia, rehabilitation therapy can help people with dementia maintain their independence, function better, and achieve a higher quality of life. Home therapy by an allied health multidisciplinary team (MDT) can be particularly effective in achieving these goals.

What is an Allied Health MDT?

An allied health multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a group of healthcare professionals with different expertise working collaboratively to provide a holistic approach to patient care. In the case of dementia, an allied health MDT may include professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, dieticians and social workers.

How Can Home Therapy Help People with Dementia?

Home therapy can greatly benefit people with dementia by providing customised rehabilitation programs that focus on the individual’s specific needs and goals. Here are some ways in which home therapy can help people with dementia achieve quality of life:

Promoting Independence

Home therapy can help people with dementia maintain their independence by developing strategies to manage daily activities, such as cooking, dressing, and grooming. Occupational therapists can assess the person’s living environment and suggest modifications to reduce hazards and promote safety.

Improving Physical Function

Physiotherapists can design exercise programs that help people with dementia maintain their strength, balance, and mobility. By improving physical function, people with dementia can perform activities of daily living with greater ease and confidence.

Enhancing Communication Skills

Speech therapists can work with people with dementia to improve their communication skills, such as speaking clearly and understanding others. This can improve their ability to interact with family members and caregivers, and reduce social isolation.

Addressing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)

Psychologists and social workers can provide support for the emotional and psychological aspects of dementia, such as depression, anxiety, and agitation. They can also provide strategies to manage BPSD, such as aggression, wandering, and hallucinations, that can be challenging for caregivers to handle, alongside our dementia-mapping trained occupational therapists.

Studies Supporting the Effectiveness of Home Therapy for Dementia

There is growing evidence to support the effectiveness of home therapy by an allied health MDT for people with dementia. A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that home-based occupational therapy improved the ability of people with dementia to perform daily activities, reduced caregiver burden, and improved quality of life. Another study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that a home-based exercise program improved the cognitive and physical function of people with dementia.

References

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2. Graff, M. J., Vernooij-Dassen, M. J., Thijssen, M., Dekker, J., Hoefnagels, W. H., & Rikkert, M. G. (2006). Community based occupational therapy for patients with dementia and their care givers: randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 333(7580), 1196. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39001.688843.BE

3. Hughes, T. F., Flatt, J. D., Fu, B., Butters, M. A., Chang, C. C., & Ganguli, M. (2014). Interactive video gaming compared with health education in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a feasibility study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(9), 890-898. doi: 10.1002/gps.4068

4. Laver, K. E., Cumming, R. G., Dyer, S. M., Hillsdon-Smith, M., & Clemson, L. M. (2012). Clinical practice guidelines for dementia in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 196(6), 1-10. doi: 10.5694/mja11.10825

5. van Alphen, H. J., Hortobágyi, T., van Heuvelen, M. J., & Barstow, T. J. (2016). Cost-effectiveness of a targeted multidisciplinary intervention to improve mobility and reduce falls among frail elderly people: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 6(2), e009074. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009074

6. Moll van Charante, E. P., Richard, E., Eurelings, L. S., van Dalen, J. W., Ligthart, S. A., van Bussel, E. F., … & van Gool, W. A. (2018). Effectiveness of a 6-year multidomain vascular care intervention to prevent dementia (preDIVA): a cluster-randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 391(10130), 2434-2444. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30719-8

7. Gagnon, L. G., Gallant, F., & Tremblay, F. (2017). Home-based training to improve physical capacity in individuals with dementia: a systematic review. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias, 32(7), 397-414. doi: 10.1177/1533317517722553

8. Stav, W., Hallberg, I. R., & Kristensson, J. (2013). Home care with respect to equity, efficiency and effectiveness–a systematic literature review. Journal of Nursing Management, 21(4), 579-593. doi: