None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Behavioural disturbances associated with dementia are common amongst community-residing people with moderate to severe dementia and are associated with reduced quality of life for both the person with dementia and their caregiver. We propose a randomized trial to test the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the Tailored Activities Program (TAP) to reduce the burden of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. The 8-session intervention involves occupational therapists identifying preserved capabilities, deficit areas, and previous interests of the person from which they prescribe specific activities. Family caregivers are then trained to use activities as part of daily care at home as a management strategy to reduce behavioural symptoms.
Interventions
The 8 session intervention program involves an occupational therapist identifying preserved capabilities, deficit areas, and previous interests of the person with dementia from which they prescribe specific activities. The 8 sessions run for around 1-1.5 hours each and occur over a 4 month period. Sessions involve both the person with dementia and their family caregiver. Family caregivers are then trained to use activities as part of daily care at home as a management strategy to reduce behaviou
The 8 session intervention program involves an occupational therapist identifying preserved capabilities, deficit areas, and previous interests of the person with dementia from which they prescribe specific activities. The 8 sessions run for around 1-1.5 hours each and occur over a 4 month period. Sessions involve both the person with dementia and their family caregiver. Family caregivers are then trained to use activities as part of daily care at home as a management strategy to reduce behavioural symptoms.
Sponsors
The University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Person with dementia must: 1. Have a diagnosis of dementia by a specialist, or meet the DSM-V (Major Neurocognitive Disorder) criteria 2. Be rated by the carer as having a frequency score of at least 2 or above on any item of the NPI-Q (Neuropsychiatric Inventory) over the past month. 3. Have conversational English 4. Be able to participate (independently or with some help) in at least two activities of daily living (ADLs; eg. bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring from bed to chair) 5. If on psychotropic medication, be on a stable dose for the past 60 days 6. If on dementia medication, be on a stable dose for the past 3 months. 7. Person with dementia should be living in the community. Carer must: 1. Report occurrence of one or more behaviours (eg. apathy, passivity, disruptive behaviours) in person with dementia over the past month 2. Have conversational English 3. Be a family member of at least 18 years old and living with person with dementia or have at least 4 days or 7hrs per week contact. 4. Be accessible by phone 5. Indicate a willingness to learn use of activities
Exclusion criteria
Person with dementia will be excluded if: 1. They are currently involved in another clinical trial 2. They have a history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder 3. Their dementia is secondary to head trauma, alcohol, brain tumour, HIV 4. They are not responsive to their environment (eg. unable to understand short commands or recognise a person coming in/out of the room) 5. They are bed bound 6. If patient is within the last 3 stages (7d, e, f) on the FAST (Functional assessment staging of Alzheimer’s Disease) which include the patient being unable to sit up without assistance, unable to hold their head up or unable to smile. 7. They do not have capacity for functional communication Carers will be excluded if: 1. They are currently involved in another clinical trial 2. They are planning to place person in a nursing home within 8 months 3. They are on a psychotropic or cholinesterase inhibitor medication, which has not been a stable dose for past 60 days. 4. They have an active psychiatric disorder and have been admitted to a psychiatric hospital related to this in the past 5 years.
Outcome results
None listed