Effectiveness of a purposeful activity for persons with dementia in a day-centre setting : a pilot study

Abstract

The necessity to meet the ageing population’s needs, Dementia Care Centres have received increased attention, following the shift in policies from the use of residential care towards a more home-based service (Vatne & Rokstad, 2017). These Dementia care centres can offer such service as an activity programme for patients with dementia as well as respite service for the informal carers (Cefalu & Hauser, 1993; Graham, 1989; Jarrott, Zarit, Stephens, Townsend, & Greene, 2000). This study investigates the effectiveness of a number of ongoing and new activities for individuals with dementia at a dementia activity centre in Malta. Forty participants (35% males, 65% females) attending the activity day centre at St. Vincent Depaul Long-Term Care Facility were selected at baseline (T=0). Level of cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination test, MMSE), dependence (Barthel Index, BI) and level of engagement and well-being (Dementia Care Mapping, DCM) during the participation in a number of activities organised daily were measured. The level of burden of caregivers of individuals with dementia was analysed through the Carer’s Checklist questionnaire. The inclusion criteria used in this study included participants that were 60 years and older with an MMSE Score between 10 – 30 and a Barthel score between 9 – 20 indicating moderate full independence in Activities of Daily living and self-care. The participants had to be living in the community and not in any governmental or private home and also, frequent users of the service through the weekly bookings scheduled by the Nursing staff and the relatives.