Category: Dementia – Supporting Carers

Occupational therapy practitioners play a significant role in supporting adults with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as their caregivers, through all phases of the disease process. This editorial highlights the systematic reviews completed in collaboration with the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Evidence-Based Practice Project that summarize the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice for this population.

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This article reviews the literature comparing depressed mood, anxiety and psychological distress in caregivers (CGs) of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with non-caregivers (NCGs) Caregivers of patients with AD experience poor mental health in comparison to the general population, with female caregivers being disproportionately affected. Further exploration of the psychosocial variables that contribute to these group differences is needed to inform effective support services and, in turn, help caregivers manage the emotional demands of AD.

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Approximately half the care for people with dementia is provided by families. It is therefore imperative that research informs ways of maintaining such care. In this study we propose that a needs-led approach can provide a useful, novel means of conceptualising the impact of caring on the lives of family carers. The needs-led approach offers a perspective that is able to capture both stresses and positives aspects of caregiving.

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Socially assistive robots are increasingly used as a therapeutic tool for people with dementia, as a means to improve quality of life through social connection.
Although limited, the current literature suggests that telepresence robots have potential utility for improving social connectedness of people with dementia and their carers. Barriers were discovered, such as a lack of experience in using a robot and technological issues. Clinical trials and feasibility studies are recommended for the future.

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People with dementia have been described as the ‘disadvantaged dying’ with poor end-of-life care. Towards the end of life, people with dementia cannot report on the care they receive. It is therefore important to talk to caregivers; however, few have explored the views about end-of-life care from the caregivers’ perspective.

End-of-life care for people with dementia does not differ from care throughout the dementia trajectory. Throughout the findings, there is an implicit underlying theme of conflict: conflict between family caregivers and an increasingly systematised service of care and conflict between family caregivers and professionals. This study has in particular demonstrated the importance of the psycho-social aspects of care, aligning with the holistic definition of palliative care.

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Occupational therapy practitioners play a significant role in supporting adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related major neurocognitive disorders, as well as their caregivers, through all phases of the disease process. This article highlights the systematic reviews completed in collaboration with the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Evidence-Based Practice Project that summarize the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice for this population. Therapists are encouraged to translate and integrate this updated knowledge into everyday practice.

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This thesis discusses the use of technology by dementia sufferers themselves, not just “assistive technology” to improve the safety of patients and is used by care systems around the world already.Studies have shown that the use of mobile applications can help stimulate user’s brains and give them a sense of helping themselves to deal with the illness.
This project aims to create a conceptual model and prototype of a mobile system to help dementia sufferers with daily tasks such as taking medication and remembering to eat properly. It is intended to be used in conjunction with caregivers to reduce the need for 24/7 care and keep sufferers independent for as long as possible.

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Exposure to suffering of a relative or friend increases the risk for psychological and physical morbidity. However, little is known about the mechanisms that account for this effect. We test a theoretical model that identifies intrusive thoughts as a mediator of the relation between perceived physical and psychological suffering of the care recipient and caregiver depression.
The effects of perceived physical suffering on depression were completely mediated through intrusive thoughts, and compassion moderated the relation between physical suffering and intrusive thoughts. Caregivers who had greater compassion reported more intrusive thoughts even when perceived physical suffering of the CR was low. For perceived psychological suffering, the effects of suffering on depression were partially mediated through intrusive thoughts.

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Older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) experience more of the types of accidents and injuries prevalent among older adults. Relatively few studies specifically on safety risks have included older adults of color and tested interventions. This pilot study tested the feasibility and evaluability of educating Hispanic and African American caregivers of patients living with AD about reducing safety risks in their homes.
The results indicate a reduction in some safety risks compared to baseline and/or a no intervention group, respectively, including leaving patients at home alone part-time, getting lost, going outdoors alone less often, and giving themselves medicine.

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Family caregivers of people living with dementia can have both positive and negative experiences of caregiving. Despite this, existing outcome measures predominately focus on negative aspects of caregiving such as burden and depression.
There are some robust positive measures in existence for family caregivers of people living with dementia. However, lack of reporting of the psychometric properties hindered the quality assessment of some outcome measures identified in this review. Future research should aim to include positive outcome measures in interventional research to facilitate a greater understanding of the positive aspects of caregiving and how these contribute to well-being.

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