Perspectives of caregivers and volunteers on for people with dementia.

RATIONALE

Current knowledge in experiences and potential benefits of group-based activity programmes on people with dementia and their caregivers is inconsistent, depending on the quality of interventions. Lacking standardisation in the programme's content and structure, therefore, requires research in a structured group-based activity programme with more details.

OBJECTIVES

This study explored perspectives of spouses of people with dementia and older volunteers about , involving a theme-based activity group and a support group. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse individual interview data with 12 people.

RESULTS

Findings suggest that (1) promotes participation of people with dementia in a happy, comfortable and accepting environment; (2) fulfils a deep need of family caregivers; (3) is well organised with a purpose and expertise and (4) The partnership between the community and the university makes the programme unique.

CONCLUSION

Programmes like can be beneficial by promoting participation of people with dementia and fulfilling a need of caregivers. These findings contribute to evidence of group-based activity programmes, in which activities were well planned by a faculty and students in occupational therapy.