Study shows the value of occupational therapy in dementia

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Occupational therapy is shown to improve quality of life for dementia patients and their carers.
There is increasing interest in non-pharmacological treatments that can help people with dementia cope with everyday life and also reduce pressure on their caregivers. In a new study, researchers in The Netherlands show that occupational therapy can be a good treatment for dementia.

A group of 135 patients with mild to moderate dementia and their caregivers were split into two sub-groups. One received ten home-based sessions of occupational therapy, from an experienced therapist, over a period of five weeks. The other sub-group did not receive occupational therapy. The groups were assessed at six and 12 weeks after the therapy sessions.

At both assessments, those who received occupational therapy functioned better in their daily lives than those who had not. Three quarters of those receiving occupational therapy improved their motor skills and 82 per cent needed less assistance in everyday tasks, compared to the control group. Primary caregivers receiving occupational therapy felt more competent than those who did not. The researchers feel this study shows that occupational therapy is more effective than drugs or other psychosocial interventions in helping people with dementia and their caregivers.

Source
British Medical Journal 18th November 2006

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