Dementia patients benefit from learning self-management
The best way to take care of people with early dementia is to let them take care of themselves.
A study found that self-management sessions that involved socialization, problem solving, and goal setting promoted independence and provided support for people with early-stage dementia.
A group of patients deceived 90-minute self-management sessions for eight weeks. After the sessions, interviews show that those who went to sessions were better able to take care of themselves than those who don’t. The effects are still present even six months after.
“Developing dementia can be a scary and isolating experience. We developed a group programme to help people with dementia manage their condition and find ways of dealing with the changes in their lifestyle. We found early evidence that empowering people to manage their own symptoms and bringing them together helped them feel more confident about managing everyday life with dementia,” said lead researcher Dr Catherine Quinn, Senior Research Fellow in The Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health (REACH).
“All this has helped to enhance their quality of life. The group members became friends and supported each other, and we found that they benefited from being able to learn from each other.”
The University of Exeter and University Bangor study was published in the journal International Psychogeriatrics.
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
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